The present state of the European settlements on the Mississippi [microform] : with a geographical description of that river : illustrated by plans and draughts

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PRES EN T STATE
OF THE

EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS

ON THE

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THE

PRESEN T 8 TAT &

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OF THE

: EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS

; ON THE
3
i .
MISS IS IP PI;
; WITH
*
q
A GEOGRAPHICAL DescripTIon of that River,
ILLUSTRATED BY
PLAN S ann DRAUGHT S,
By Captain PHILIP PITTMAN,
LONDON,
Prigted for J. Nourse, Bookfeller to His MAJESTY,
MDCCLXX,

rina ii eats corcbe Lay Saabs

PRE FAC E.

? SHE European fettlements on the river Miffifippi
comprehend Louifiana, part of Weft Florida, and
the country of the Illinois. Five years refidence as

an engineer in thofe countries, during which time I was
chiefly employed in furveying and exploring their in-
terior parts, and an acquaintance with the principal in-
habitants, enables me to fpeak with at leaft as much
authority as any author who has hitherto wrote on the
fame fubject.

Louifiana is no longer the fame as in the time of Pere
Hennepin; and all other authors that I have read on this
fubject rather abound with Indian ftories and ¢a/ks, than
with ufeful information.

Father Charlevoix made fo rapid a progrefs through
thofe countries, that the greateft part of what he advances
mutt be from tle doubtful information of cthers, and not
from his own perfonal knowledge. Neither is the reader
recompenfed by the {mall quantity of pure ore he can
extract from that mafs of drofs, in the elaborate accounts
of Le Page du Prarz.

It may be thought extraordinary that I have confined
my accounts to the banks of the Miffifippi, and not touched
on the other parts of Weft Florida, which may be fuppofed
equally interefting.

This work was originally wrote at the requeft, and for
the perufal only, of the fecretary of flate for the colonies ;
4 and

f

vi PR EFAC E

and I imagined that he mutt have received every informa-
tion neceflary to form a perfect knowledge of that pro-
vince, from perfons who have commanded in it. Befides,
my ingenious friend governor Johnftone has told me, that
he intends foon to publifh a book on this fubject ; by which
means the deficiency in mine will be amply made up, and
the publick will have the advantage of receiving inftruction
and entertainment from a much more pleafing and
abler pen.

I am furprifed that nobody has yet attempted to wipe
of the unfavourable impreflions that have taken place in
the minds of many people, from the unjuft reports
made of the climate of Weft Florida, and which ftill re-
tards the fettling of that fine country. A regard for truth,
and a defire to render fervice to that valuable province, the
welfare of which has been obftructed by ignorance and
mifreprefentation, makes me take this occafion to fhew
the true caufes of its fuppofed unhealthinefs.

Penfacola and Mobile have both proved fatal to our
troops; the former from mifmanagement, the latter from
its fituation. When we took poffeflion of Penfacola, in
the latter end of the year 1763, it confifted of a fort and
a few flraggling houfes ; the fort was conftructed of high
ftockades, enclofing in a very {mall {pace a houfe for the
governor, and feveral miferable huts, built with pieces of
bark, covered with the fame materials, and moft of
them without floors ; fo that in the fummer they were as
hot as ftoves, and the land engendered all forts of ver-
min: in thefe wretched habitations the officers and
foldiers dwelt.

After

tte OE oo a a |

P R E F AC E, vil

After we had poffeffion fome time, the commandant,
with a view of making the fortification more refpectable,
furrounded the fort with a ditch; which, in fact, could
anfwer no other purpofe, than holding a quantity of
ftagnated water to empoifon the little air that could
find its way into the garrifon. The thirty-firft regiment
of foot, which fuffered remarkably from ficknefs and
mortality in this place, was fent to it in the hotteft part
of the fummer of 1765, unprovided with every thing
neceflary to preferve health in fuch a fudden change of
climate. Brigadier-general Haldimand, in the beginning
of 1767, immediately after his arrival here, caufed the
enccinte of the fort to be confiderably extended, widened
the ftreets, removed every thing that could obftruct a free
circulation of air, and laid the place open to the fea, to
give admiffion to the breezes, The enfuing fummer was
exceffive hot, the thermometer having rofe to one hundred
and fourteen degrees ; yet, by the falutary precautions the
general had taken, the troops were remarkably healthy,
few fell fick, and fcarce any died ; although their lodgings,
which of themfelves may be fuppofed fufficient to deftroy
a good conftitution, were little improved: from hence I
prefume that Penfacola is as healthy as any Englith fettle-
ment in the fouthern provinces of North America.

Mobile is fituated on the banks of the river of that
name, juft at the place where the frefh and falt waters
mix; when the tide goes out it leaves an abundance of
{mall fifhes on the marfhes which lie oppofite the town,.
and the heat of the fun in fummer kills the fifth; and the
{tench of them, of the ftagnated water in the neighbouring
{wamps, and the flimy mud, render the air putrid. To.

this

vili PR E F'A. Ci LE

this may be added, that the water of the wells is brackifh,
and there is none to be found wholfome within lefs than one
mile anda half of the place. The twenty-firft regiment of
foot was fent to Mobile at the fame time that the ¢thirty-firft
regiment garrifoned Penfacola, and being equally unpro-
vided with things neceflary for troops newly arrived from
Europe, and unfeafoned to fuch a climate, fuffered almoft
as much. I fhall only add on this fubjeét, which is a
little diftant from the true intent of my preface, that Weft
Florida poffeffes the greateft advantage, as to its fituation
for commerce, and the communications to the different
parts are rendered eafy by fine navigable rivers, the banks
of which are covered by a frefh luxuriant foil, capable of
producing every thing natural to thefe climates.

I have endeavoured to be as concife as poflible ; indeed
the purpofe it was wrote for feemed to demand it; I could
with eafe have been much more diffufe on fubjects in which
fo much matter is contained.

It is with fear and diffidence that I prefume to appear
as an author; but a defire of communicating what I have
been aflured by friends would be of ufe to the publick,
has been my only inducement ; and if they have judged
right, my utmoft wifhes will be amply gratified.

THE
PRES EN T STATE
OF THE

EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
On the MISSISIPPI.

Of the Rivr MISSISIPPI,

HE river Miffifippi has been known by a variety of names;

! the firft ditcoverers from Canada gave it the name of Col-

bert, in honour to that great minifter, who was then in

power. The famous adventurer, Monfieur de Salle, when he dif-

covered the mouth, called it the river Saint Louis, by which name

it has ever been diftinguifhed in all publick aéts, refpedting the

province of Louiffianna: But its prefent general appellation of

Miffifippi is a corruption of Metcha/ippi; by which name it is ftill

known to the Northern Savages, that word fignifying, in their lan-
guage, the Father of Rivers.

Nothing can, with propriety, be aflerted with refpe& to the
fource of this river, tho’ there are people flill exifting, who pretend
to have been there. The accounts, which I think thould be paid
mot attention to, are thofe which have been given by the Sioux, a

; B very

2 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

very numerous itinerant nation of Indians, who generally refide in
the countries North of the Miffifippi: A few of them have fome-
times come to the French poft, on the River Illinois, to barter
fkins and furrs; but in general they diflike the Europeans, and have
little inclination to be much acquainted with them. Their account
is as follows: The river Miffifippi rifes from a very extenfive
fwamp, and its waters are encreafed by feveral rivers (fome of them
not inconfiderable) emptying themfelves into it in its courfé to the
fall of St. Anthony, which, by their accounts, is not lefs than feven
hundred leagues from the great fwamps: This is formed by a
rock running a-crofs the river, and falls about twelve feet perpendi-
cular; and this place is known to be eight hundred leagues from the
fea. So that it is moft probable that the Miffifippi runs, at leaft,
four thoufand five hundred miles,

The principal rivers which fall into the Miffifippi, below the fall
of St. Anthony, are, the river St. Pierre, which comes from the
Weft; Saint Croix, from the Eaft; Moingona, which is two hun-
dred and fifty leagues below the fali, comes. from the Weft, and ie
faid to run one hundred and fifty leagues ; and the river Illinois, the
fource of which is near the lake Michigan, Eaft of the Miffifippi
two hundred leagues.

The fource of the river Miffoury is unknown ; the French traders
go betwixt three and four hundred leagues up, to traffic with the In-
dians who inhabit near its banks, and this branch of commerce is
very confiderable ; it employs annually eight thoufand pounds worth
of European goods, including a {mall quantity of rum, of all which
the freight amounts to about one hundred per cent. Their returns
are, at leaft, at the rate of three hundred per cent. fo that they are
certain of two hundred per cent. profit. ‘The mouth of this great
river is five leagues below the river Illinois, and is generally called
five hundred from the fea, tho’ in fat it is not more than four hun-
dred and fifty. From its confluence to its fource is fuppofed to be

eight

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 3

eight hundred leagues, running from the north-weft to the fouth-
eaft. The muddy waters of the Miffoury prevail over thofe of the
Miflifippi, running with violent rapidity to the ocean. The Miffifip-
pi glides with a gentle and clear ftream, ’till it meets with this inter-
ruption. The next river of note, is the Ohio or Belle Riviere ; it
empties itfelf about feventy leagues below the Miffoury: its fource
is near the lake Eric, running from the north-eaft to the fouth-weft,
upwards of four hundred leagues.

Ninety leagues further down is the river Saint Francis, on the
wett fide of the Miffifippi: this is a very fmall river, and is remark-
able for nothing but being the general rendez-vous of the hunters from
New Orleans, who winter there, and make a provifion of falted
meats, fuet, and bears oil, for the fupply of that city. The river
Arkanfas is thirty-five leagues lower down, and two hundred from
New Orleans; it is fo called from a nation of Indians of the fame
name ; its fource is faid to be in the fame latitude as Santa Fé in
New Mexico, and holds its courfe near three hundred leagues,

The river Yazous comes from the north-eaft, and difcharges it-
felf into the Miffifippi, fixty leagues from the Arkanfas: formerly
a nation of Indians of the fame name had their villages on it,
and there was a French poft and fettlement. The nation is en-
tirely extinct, and there is not the leaft trace of any fettlement.

It is near fixty leagues from this little river to the river Rouge,
which is fo called from its waters, being of a reddifh colour, and
they tinge thofe of the Miffifippi at the time of the floods; its
fource is in New Mexico, and it runs about two hundred leagues :
the river Noir empties itfelf iz‘o this river about ten leagues from
its confluence. ‘The famous Ferdinand Soto ended his difcoveries
at the entrance of the river Rouge, and was buried there.

B 2 Near

L
F nN
'
ft
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4 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

Near feventy leagues up this river is a very confiderable poft, be-
longing to the French; it is a frontier on the Spanifh fettlements,
being twenty miles from the Fort of Adaics. The French fort is
garrifoned by a captain, two fubalterns, and about fifty men : there
are forty families, confifting moftly of difcharged foldiers, and fome
merchants who trade with the Spaniards. A great quantity of to-
bacco is cultivated at this port, and fells for a good price at New
Orleans, being held in great efteem: they fend alfo fome peltry,
which they receive in trade from the neighbouring Indians.

From the river Rouge to the fea, there are only fome fmall brooks,.
of no account. The Bayouk of Peloufas, which is about three
miles from the river Rouge and the river Ibberville, are defcribed
in the account hereafter given of the fettlements on the river Mif-.
fifippi.

It is peculiar to the river Miffifippi, that no part of the waters
which overflow its banks, ever return to their former channel :
this is a circumftance, which I believe is not to be met with in any
other river in the world. All the lands from the river Ibbeville to
the fea, have been formed in the fucceflion of ages, by the vaft
quantities of flimy mud, trees, dead wood, and leaves which the
river brings down at its annual floods, which begin in the month of
March, by the melting of the fnow and ice in the northern parts.
This innundation continues three months. The muddy lands pro-
duce lony grafs, canes, and reeds in great abundance: at the over-
flowings of the river, the grafs, canes, and reeds ftop great quanti-
ties of the mud and rubbifh that defcend with the current. The
long grafs, &c. neareft the river, muft receive a greater quantity of
this rubbifh than that which is more diftant, and this caufes the
bank of the Miffifippi to be higher than the interior land, and ac-
counts for the waters never returning to the river ; and we may rea-
fonably fuppofe, that the lakes on each fide are parts of the fea, not
yet filled up. Thus the land is annually raifed, and continually

gains

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 5

gains onthe fea. The Balize, a fmall fort, erected by the French
on a little ifland, was, in the year 1734, at the mouth of the rivers
it is now two miles up. In the year 1767, Don Antonio D’Ulloa
erected fome barracks on a fmall ifland (to which he gave the name
of Saint Carlos) for the convenience of pilots, and other purpofes,
being near the fouth-eaft entrance of the river, and a more dry and
higher fituation than any thereabouts. There was not the leaft ap-
pearance of this ifland twenty years ago.

Before I quit this fubjeé&, I muft obferve, that on digging ten or
twelve feet in the lands I have above defcribed, large bodies of trecs
have been frequently found. The craw-fifh abound in this coun-
try; they are in every part of the earth, and when the inhabitants

chufe a dith of ‘them, they fend to their gardens, where they have

a {mall pond dug for that purpofe, and are fure of getting as many
as they have occafion for. A dith of thrimps is as eafily procured
by hanging a fmall canvas bag with a bit of meat in it, to the bank
of the river, and letting it drop a little below the furface of the wa-
ter; in afew hours a fufficient quantity will have got into the bag.
Shrimps are found in the Miflifippi as far as Natches, which is near
one hundred and thirty leagues from the fea.

‘Ihave before mentioned, that the river-water is remarkably mud-
dy: I have filled a half-pint tumbler with it, and have found a fe-
diment of two inches of flime. It is, notwithftanding, extremely
wholefome and well tafted, and very cool in the hotteft feafons of
the year ; and the rowers, who are then employed, drink of it when
they are in the ftrongelt perfpiration, and never receive any bad ef-
fe&ts from it. The inhabitants of New Orleans ufe no other wa-
ter than that of the river, which, by keeping in a jar, becomes.
perfectly clear.

The navigation of the Miffifippi is confined to veffels not draw-
ing above feventeen feet water, there being little more in the deep-

eft

ergy HL

6 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

eft channel on the bar, which is fubjeét to fhift very often; fo
that a pilot is conftantly employed in founding. On every part
of the bar there is nine feet water, and fimall veffels go over it with-
out fear: frigates of thirty-fix guns have often gone through the
channel, after taking their guns out. When once a veffel has crofs-
ed the bar, the remainder of the navigation is v-ry fafe, keeping
clear of the great trees, which float down with the current. When
winds are contrary, veflels make faft to the trees on the banks of
the river, and Laul clofe, there being fufficient depth of water for
any fhip whatever. It is impoflible to anchor without being expo-
fed to the danger of the great trees which come down with the cur-
rent almoft continually, but more efpecially at the time of the
floods, which if any of them fhould come athwart hawfe, would
moft probably drive in the bows of the veflel ; and there is a certain-
ty of loofing the anchors, as the bottom of the river is very foft
mud, covered with funk logs, and is in general at leaft fixty fa-
thoms deep, and this fort of bottom and depth continues almoft as
far as the Natches ; and all veffels that enter the river, can go up
within three miles of that poft.

The merchandize neceflary for the commerce to Natchitoches,
Miffoury, and in general the upper pofts on or near the Miflifip-
pi, is carried by Batteaus, which are rowed by eighteen or twenty
men, and contain about forty tons burthen; they are commonly
three months going from New Orleans to the Ilinois. They al-
ways go in convoys from New Orleans, and before they fet out ap-
point an officer from amongft themfelves to command them; or
apply for a king’s officer for that purpofe ; and whenever they put
on fhore to eat their meals, or encamp for the night, they have a
regular guard mounted: they ufe thefe precautions for fear of any
attack from the Indians. The Chicathaws formerly were very
troublefome to them. Two of thefe convoys, confifting of from

feven

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 7

feven to twelve Batteaus, go from’ New Orleans twice a year, viz.
in the {pring and autumn.

In the fpring the Miffifippi is very high ; and tho’ the current is
fo ftrong that nothing can make head againft it in the middle of the
river, they have an advantge by an eddy or counter-current, which
runs in the bends, and clofe to the banks of the river, and greatly
facilitates their voyage. The current, at this feafon, runs at the
rate of fix or feven miles an hour: in autumn, when the waters are
low, it in general does not run above two miles an hour, except in
fome parts of the river, above the Arkanfas, where there are a great
many iflands, fhoals, and fand-banks of fome miles circumference,.
which make the voyage more dangerous, longer, and lefs expedi~
tious, than in the fpring ; and this makes it further neceflary, that
boats fhould go in convoys, that they may affift each other in cafe
of meeting with any of the accidents they are fo evidently expofed:
to. Great pieces of coal are conftantly found on the fand-banks,.
from whence it may be concluded, that there are coal-mines on the

upper parts of the Miffifippi.

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2

oF THE
POST and SETTLEMENTS

ON THE

MISS ISI PPI.

O proceed with order and facility in defcribing the pofls
which are on the Miffifippi, and thofe which communi-

cate with that river, I fhall begin with the Balize, and fo go on,
afcending the river. The ifland of Saint Carlos, of which I have
before fpoke, is near the entrance of the Miffifippi, and lies in
twenty-nine degrees north latitude, and in eighty-nine degrees ten
minutes longitude from the meridian of London: there are houfes
for the refidence of an officer, twenty foldiers, a pilot, and a chap-
lain. The reafon of eftablifhing this poft, is that afliftance may be
given to veflels coming into the river, and to forward intelligence
or difpatches to New Orleans: This is called the Balize as well as
the French poft, which lies two miles eaft of the entrance of the river,
and was originally built with the fame defign, and as a defence for
the mouth of the river: its fituation (which is very low and
{wampy) would never admit of any ftrong fortification ; but what there
was, is now gone to ruin: nothing remains but the foldiers bar-
racks, and three or four guns ex dardette. From this place nothing
is to be feen but low marfhes, continually overflowed, till we get
within a few leagues of the Detour de L’Anglois, where there are
fome few plantations, moft of which are but very late eftablith-
ments, and are, as yet, but of very little confequence. At the De-
tour the river forms almofta circle; fo that veflels cannot pafs it
with the fame wind that conducted them to it, and are obliged to
wait for a fhift of wind. This gave the idca to the French, of
2 building

i de |

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 9

building two forts at this Pafs, one on each fide of the river, to
prevent the enterprifes of any enemies ; for although the forts are
only enclofures of ftockades and a defence againft fmall arms, the
batteries on each fide, which are of ten twelve-pounders, are more
than fufficient to ftop the progrefs of any veffel, as there is no pof-
fibility of mooring nor of making a veffel faft on fhore : the impof-
fibility of mooring has been before accounted for by the defcription
given of the bed of the river. The going on fhore is equally impof-
fible, as the forts are on points of land, which are bounded by the
river on one fide and by fwamps on the cther, fo that any attacks
againft them muft prove unfuccefsful. Such is the fituation of thefe
forts, which might befides receive continual reinforcements from
the inhabitants in their neighbourhood, and from New Orleans,
which is but feventeen miles diftant. The authors who have wrote
concerning Louifiana have given many different reafons for this
place being called the Detour des Anglois ; I thall give that which
appears the moft probable.

The officers who had been fent to reconoitre the Miffifippi, and
to report the propereft place to build the capital of Louifiana on,
in their return to Mobile, going down the river, faw an Englifh
brig made faft to the fhore, which curiofity had induced to go thus
far up, and was waiting for a fair wind to proceed on further difco-
veries. The plantations and the well-built houfes on each fide the
river afford a very pleafing and agreeable profpect, which continues
till we arrive at New Orleans; and this, with a tolerable fair wind,
is an affair of about four hours.

C NEW

NEW ORLEAN S.

EW ORLEANS ftands on the eaft fide of the river, and

in 30°. north latitude; its fituation is extremely well
chofen, as it hasa very eafy communication with the northern parts
of Louifiana (now Weft Florida) by eans of the Bayouk of St.
John, a little creek, which is navigable for fmall veffels drawing
lefs than fix feet water, fix miles up from the lake Ponchartain,
where there is a landing-place, at which the veffels load and un-
load ; and this is about two miles from the city. The entrance of
the Bayouk of St. John is defended by a battery of fix guns and a
ferjeant’s guard. The veffels which come up the Miflifippi haul
clofe along-fide the bank next to New Orleans, to which they
make faft, and take in or difcharge their cargoes with the fame
facility as from a wharf. The’ town is fecured from the inun-
dations of the river by a raifed bank, generally called the Le-
vée; and this extends from the Detour des Anglois, to the upper
fettlement of the Germans, which is a diftance of more than fifty
miles, and a good coach-road all the way. The Levée before
the town is repaired at the public expence, and each inhabitant
keeps that part in repair which is oppofite to his own plantation.
Having defcribed the fituation of the city of New Orleans, I will
proceed to its plan of conftrudtion.

The parade is a large fquare, in the middle of that part of the
town which fronts the river ; in the back part of the fquare is the
church dedicated to St. Louis, a very poor building, framed with
wood ; it is in fo ruinous a condition that divine fervice has not
been performed in it fince the year 1766, one of the king’s ftore-
houfes being at prefent ufed for that purpofe. The capuchins are
the curates of New Orleans ; on the left hand fide of the church

I they

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. It

they had a very handfome and commodious brick houfe, which is
totally deferted and gone to ruin; they now live on their planta-
tion, and ina hired houfeintown. On the right hand fide of the
church is the prifon and guard-houfe, which are very flrong and
good buildings. The two fides of the {quare were formerly occu
pied by barracks for the troops, which are entirely deftroyed. The
{quare is open to the river, and on that fide are twenty-one pieces
of ordnance, en barbette, which are fired on public rejoicings,
All the ftreets are perfectly ftraight, and crofs each other at right
angles, and thefe divide the town into fixty-fix fquares, eleven in
length by the river’s fide, and fix in depth; the fides of thefe
{quares are one hundred yards each, and are divided into ‘welve
lotts, for the eftablifhment of the inhabitants. The intendant’s
houfe and gardens take up the right fide of the parade, the left fide
is occupied by the king’s ftore-houfes and an artillery-yard. There
is at prefent no building fet on part for the governor ; his general
refidence is in a large houfe, which was formerly the property of
the company who were the proprietors of Louifiana, known by the
name of /a compagnie d'occident. The agent of the company is now
owner of the houfe. The convent of the Urfulines and general
hofpital, which is attended by the nuns, occupy the two left hand
{quares facing the river: thefe buildings are ftrong and plain, welk
anfwering the purpofes for which they were defigned. The gene=
ral plan of building in the town, is with timber frames filled up
with brick ; and moft of the houfes are but of one floor, raifed
about eight feet from the ground, with large galleries round them,
and the cellars under the floors level with the ground ; it is impof-
fible to have any fubterraneous buildings, as they would be con-
ftantly full of water. I imagine that there are betwixt feven and
eight hundred houfes in the town, moft of which have gardens;
The fquares at the back and fides of the town are moftly laid out
in gardens ; the orange-trees, with which they are planted, are not
unpleafant objects, and in the fpring afford an agreeable {mell.

C2 The

ech > SS NS LM

12 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

There are, exclufive of the flaves, about feven thoufand inha-
bitants in town, of all ages and fexes, ‘The fortifications are only
an enceinte of ftockades, with a danquette within and a very trifling
ditch without; thefe can anfwer no end but againft Indians, or
negroes, in cafe of an infurrection, and keep the flaves of the
town and country from having any communication in the night.
There are about four hundred foldiers kept for the police of the
town and country ; thefe belong to the detached companies of the
marines: there are alfo ten companies of militia, four chofen
from the inhabitants of the town, the planters and their fervants
form the remainder.

The government of Louifiana is compofed of a governor, an
intendant, and a royal council. The governor is invefted with a
great deal of power, which, however, on the fide of the crown is
checked by the intendant, who has the care of the king’s rights,
and whatever relates to the revenue ; and on the fide of the people
it is checked by the royal council, whofe office it partly is to fee
that the people are not oppreffed by the one nor defrauded by the
other. The royal council, who ftile themfelves Le Con/eil fuperieur
de la Louifiane, confit of the intendant, who is firft judge, the
king’s attorney, fix of the principal inhabitants, and the regifter
of the province ; and they judge in all criminal and civil matters,
Every man has a right to plead his own caufe before them, either
verbally or by a written petition ; and the evidences called on by
each party attend the examination of the council. In a court like

this, eloquence or great abilities cannot fupport injuftice or con-
found truth.

The intendant is commiflary of the marine and judge of the
admiralty; and he decides, in a fummary manner, all difputes be-
tween merchants, or whatever elfe has a relation to trade. A final
reference may be made from any judgment given by the intendant

or

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OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 13

or council to the parliament of Paris. On the firft eftablithment
of the colony, nothing that could tend to render it flourifhing or
happy was unthought of. I fhall mention one inftance of the lenity
and wifdom of the legiflature ; but the difhonefty of governors and
intendants, as well as the corruption and relaxation of the govern-
ment in France fince that time, has totally perverted or funk into
oblivion regulations that were fo evidently calculated for the hap-
pinefs of the fubjeét. The planter is confidered as a Frenchman
venturing his life, enduring a fpecies of banifhment, and under.
going great hardfhips for the benefit of his country ; for which
reafon he has great indulgence fhewn. Whenever by hurricanes,
earthquakes, or bad feafons, the planters fuffer, a ftop is put to the
rigor of exacting creditors. ‘The few taxes which are levied are
remitted, and even advances are made to repair their loffes and fet
them forward. On the other hand, there can be no tempta-~
tion to the planter to run fraudulently into debt, to the
prejudice of the French merchant, as all debts, though con-
trated by the planters in France, are levied with great eafe. The
procefs, properly authenticated, is tranfmitted to America, and
admitted as proof there, and levied on the planter’s eftate, of what-
ever kind it may be. However, care is taken that whilft compul-
fory methods are ufed to make the planter do juftice, the ftate
ihall not lofe the induftry of a ufeful member of the community ;
the debt is always levied according to the fubftance of the debtor,
Thus one party is not facrificed to the other, they both fubfitt ;
the creditor is fatisfied, and the debtor not ruined.

The paper money which circulated in this province has al-
moft effected its ruin, owing to the mal-adminiftration of Monf,.
Kerlerec, who was governor during the laft war. As the fend-
ing money from France, at that time, to pay the civil and mi-
litary officers, troops, and other exigences of government, would
have been attended with too much rifque, the governor and

intendant were ordered to iffue out paper money, which were
called.

14 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

called Bons *, being notes for fmall fums, payable in bills of ex-
change, drawn at three months fight on the treafury of France.
Thefe Bons were from ten fols to one hundred livres ; and whoever
colleéted a certain fum, as three or four hundred livres at leaft,
was entitled to a bill of exchange in lieu of the Bons, which he
paid to the treafurer of the province. The governor and intendant
empowered the commandants and commiflaries at our ports to iffue
out notes of the fame kind, for provifions, public works, and In-
dian prefents. Thus the debts contracted with the merchants and
inhabitants during the war amounted to very large fums, and the
abufes made of this great truft rendered the expences of the co-
lony enormous. Monf. de Kerlerec, and fome other officers, took
opportunities of negotiating bills by way of Jamaica and other
a Englith colonies, before the peace was concluded: the amount of
. ae thefe bills was very confiderable and was duly paid. The demands
| of money from Louifiana and expences of Canada fo far ex-
: ‘ ceeded all expectation, and the treafury of France being drained, ie
; the king, by an edi& in 1759, ftopped payment of this colony’s _
ae bills, to the amourt of feven millions of livres, on pretence of no
: authenticated vouchers, or accounts of the publick expences being
arrived. In the latter end of the year 1753, Monf. Kerlerec was
recalled, and Monf. de Rochemaure, the intendant, left the cc-
4 i Jony fome time before, and died fhortly after his arrival in France.
. ! C Monf. D’Abbadie was fent out as director-general, and was in-
vefted with the powers of both governor and intendant: he was
inftructed to reform the abufes which had taken place in the pub-
lick offices, and to endeavour to reftore tranquility to the inhabi-
tants, who were almoft engaged in a civil war, by entering into
the difputes of their governor and intendant, which were firft oc-

La eth ape

0 DS SEI TE SE

(i: * The tenor of thefe Bons was as follows :

a N° a la Nouvelle Orleans.

Be Bon pour.Ja fomme de —— payable en lettres

ibis —_—-- 'e change fur le trefor . . ne Governor
ty Signed j and Intendant,

a

cafioned ©

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. rg

cafioned by the arrival of two Englith flags of truce, during the
war, loaded with dry goods, one of which was from Jamaica and
the other from Rhode Ifland. Whilft Monf. de Kerlerec held
congrefs with the Creek and Chactaw Indians at Mobile, Monf.
de Rochemaure feized the veffels, imprifoned the captains and
crew, and lodged the cargoes in the king’s ftore-houfes. Monf.
de Kerlerec on his r-curn to New Orleans, ordered the captains
and failors to be releafed, reftored their veffels to them, and per-
mitted them to fell the cargoes for the benefit of the owners.
Many of the moft refpectable inhabitants and fome officers remon-
{trated againft this proceeding, and reprefented the danger of ad-
mitting Englith fubjects to trade in the time of war, who would
become acquainted with the navigation of the river, and be ena~
bled to give a true account of the then weak fituation of the pro-
vince, which would fall an eafy prey to their enemies. The friends
of Monf. Kerlerec, on the other hand, petitioned that the cargoes
might be publickly fold, and the Englith protected ; that the co-
lony was in the greateft want of the goods brought by the flags of
truce; that it was an act of humanity in the Englith governors
who had granted thofe commiffions; that this was the only me-
thod by which they could be fupplied with what they were in the
greateft neceflity for ; and fhould he take harfh meafures with thefe
people, the colony muft be totally excluded from all hopes of fu-
ture affiftance till a peace, of which there \ s not then the leaft
profpect. But to return to the paper money: Monf. D’Abbadie
called in a great quantity of the bills of exchange and Bons, de-
preciating their value feventy-five per cent. and iffued out new
paper money, figned by him, which he put on a par with fpecie ;
as, for example, a Bon of five livres was equal to one dollar or

. piece of eight, and feventy livres of the old paper was only equal

to one dollar. Thus the induftrious planter was defrauded of
three-fourths of his property.

Mont.

16 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

Monf. D’Abbadie died in February 1765, fince which the paper
money iffued by him has fallen twenty-five per cent. from its ori-
ginal value. On the death of Mont. D’Abbadie, Monf. Aubry,
commandant of the troops, fucceeded him as governor, and Monf,
Foucault, commiffaire ordonnateur, as iutendant. Thefe gentle-
men continued to act in their refpective fiations, notwithftanding
the ceffion of the colony to the crown of Spain in 1764. Don
Antonio D’Ulloa arrived at New Orleans about the middle of the
year 1766, but refufed to take the government of the colony on
him, until he fhould have a fufficient armed force to eftablith his.
authority. In the beginning of the year 1767 two hundred Spanifh
foldiers were fent from the Havanna, but thefe he did not think
fufficient to enforce his commands in a country where the Spanifh
government was held in the utmoft abhorrence and deteftation ; he
fent about fixty of thefe troops to erect two forts, one oppofite fort
Bute, on the mouth of the Ibbeville, and the other on the weit fide
of the Miffifippi, oppofite the Natches; the remainder were fent
in the autumn of 1767 to build a fort at the mouth of the river
Miffoury; but the commandant was forbid to interfere with the
civil government of their fettlements in the Illinois cou~try, where
Monf. De Saint Ange continues to command with about twenty
French foldiers. Don Antonio D’Ulloa, who had already carried
a high hand over the inhabitants, received fome orders from his
court, by which the commerce of the colony was greatly reftricted,
and which were fo difagreeable to the colonifts, that they revolted
from the dominion of the crown of Spain; and the council, by an
edict, inferted at the end of this work, obliged him and the prin-
cipal Spanifh officers to leave the province in Noveinber 1768,
notwithftanding M. Aubry’s remonftrances and the proteft he »nade
againft the edict of the council.

_ Monf. de Sacier, one of the council, with two other gentlemen
of the colony, was fent to France with this ediét, and to implore
2 the

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 17

the protection of the king; they were imprisoned on their arrival,
and have never been heard of fince.

During fix months, which elapfed before news cou.. be received
from Europe, the unhappy colonifts vainly flattered themfelves
with hopes of being juftified for the fteps they had taken by tlre
court of France. On the 23d of July, 1769, news was brought
to New Orleans of the arrival of general O‘Reily at the Balize,
with eightecn tranfports, followed by ten more from the Havanna,
having four thoufand five hundred troops on board, and loaded
with ftores and ammunition. This intelligence threw the town
into the greateft confternation and perplexity, as, but a few days
before, letters had arrived from Europe fignifying that the colony
was reftored to France.

In the general diftraétion that took place, the inhabitants of the
town and the adjacent plantations determined to oppofe the landing

of the Spaniards, and fent couriers requiring the Germans and Ac-
cadian neutrals to jointhem. On the 24th an exprefs arrived from
general O*Reily, which was read by Monf. Aubry to the people in
church; by this they were informed that he was fent by his ca-
tholic majefty to take poffeflion of the colony, but not to diftrefs
the inhabitants ; and that when he fhould be in poffeffion he would
publifh the remaining part of the orders he had in charge from the
king his mafter; and fhould any attempt be made to oppofe his
landing, he was refolved not to depart until he could put his ma-
jefty’s commands in execution.

The people, diffatisfied with this ambiguous meffage, came to a
refolution of fending three deputies to Mr. O'Reily, viz. Mefits,
Grandmaifon, town-major, La Friniere, attorney-general, and De
Mazant, formerly captain in the colony’s troops and a man of very
confiderable property ; thefe gentlemen acquainted him, that the
inhabitants had come to a refolution of abandoning the province,

D and

18 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

and demanded no other favour than that he would grant them two
years to remove themfelves and effects. The general received the
deputies with great politenefs, Lut did not enter into the merits of
their embafly, farther than affuring them that he would comply
with every reafonable requeft of the colonifts ; that he had the in-
tereft of their country much at heart, and nothing on his part
fhould be wanting to promote it; that all paft tranfactions fhould
be buried in oblivion, and all who had offended fhould be for-
given: to this he added every thing that he imagined could flatter
the expectations of the people. On the ift of Auguft the deputies
returned, and made publick the kind reception the general had
given them, and the fair promifes he had made. The minds of
the people were now greatly tranquilized, and thofe who had be-
fore determined fuddenly to quit their plantations now refolved to
remain until their crops were off the ground.

During the abfence of the deputies, feveral of the principal in
habitants applie¢ to captain-lieutenant Campbell, late of the thirty-
fourth regiment, then at New Orleans, to acquaint the governor
of Weft Florida that they were defirous of becoming Britifh fub-
jects, and to beg that he would fend a proper perfon to tender them:
the oath of allegiance, and to diftribute the lands, on the banks:
of the river betwixt the Ibbeville and Natches, for them to fettle
on; and that they were to be joined by near two-thirds of the:
French inhabitants, and by German and Accadian families, of
which fix hundred men were capable of bearing arms. Thefe
would have proved a valuable acquifition to the province of Weft
Florida, and it is rather unfortunate that at this time there were no
troops in the forts of Natches and Ibbeville to give them pro-
tection.

On the 15th of Auguft general O'Reily arrived at New Orleans
with one frigate and twenty-two tranfports, and came on fhore
the day following to reconnoitre the gtound for difembarking, and

' 8 the

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI, 19

the grand parade for arawing up his troops; he was attended by
Monf. Aubry and the ftaff of the garrifon ; he returned on board
foon after, and was faluted by the frigate and the garrifon, Or-
ders were given for the troops to difembark on the 18th, at four
o'clock in the morning, by firing one gun from the frigate ; ftages
being previoufly made to reach from the fhore to the fides of the
thips for the foldiers to pafs over.

On a fignal being given all the troops began to move, and in
lefs than ten minutes were formed on the bank of the river, and
from thence marched to the grand parade, where they formed
the {quare. The thips were dreffed with the colours of different
nations, and the fhrouds and yards crouded with failors. On the
general’s going on fhore he was faluted by the frigate, and received
four cheers from the failors ; and on his coming on the parade there
was a general difcharge of cannon and fmall arms from the gar-
tifon and militia, attended with mufick and drums. Don Alex.
O‘Reily and Monf. Aubry, with their attendants, followed by a
croud of inhabitants, went to that angle of the parade where the

‘flag-ftaff ftood. Monf. Aubry, as governor, opened his orders

from his moft chriftian majefty, to deliver up the town and ifland
of New Orleans, and province of Louifiana, to Don Alex,
O‘Reily, in the name of his catholick majefty ; and expreffed his
happinefs and fatisfaction in being fucceeded in the command of
that country by a man of his humanity and worth; to which ge-
neral O‘Reily anfwered, ‘ I fhall make it the rule of my future
conduct in government, to imitate thofe wife and prudent maxims
in adminiftring juftice by which you have gained the hearts of
the people, even at the moft critical juncture.” The Spanith co-
lours were now hoifted, and honoured by another general difcharge
of artillery and fimall arms from the garrifon; his -excellency
and attendants went to church, and fung Te Deum, whilft the
guards were relieving : after church was over, the parade was dif-
miffed, and the foldiers went to the barracks appointed for them.

D2 On

20 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

On the roth of Auguft the town militia was reviewed : from this
day the time was paffed in receiving and making vifits until the
25th in the morning, when the inhabitants went to pay their re-
{pects to their new governor ; as they entered the hall, he defired
them to place themfelves fingly round the room, and holding a
paper in his hand, containing the names of the perfons principally
concerned in the late infurrection, fuch as were prefent he begged
to walk into the next room, where an officer and guard attended
to take them into cuftody ; fuch as were abfent he fent for, to the
number of thirteen, and confined them in feparate apartments, fome
on board fhip, others to guards and common prifons, where. they
were detained to take their trials for high treafon; their flaves
and other effects were feized in the king’s name. On the 27th
a proclamation was publifhed, ordering the inhabitants to take
the oaths of allegiance; and an amnefty to all concerned in the
late revolt, except thofe already in cuftody ; and another was pub-
lithed prohibiting negroes from monopolizing provifions coming
to market, or buying or felling without a written leave from their
mafters. Shortly after, other orders were given out, by which alk
the Englith fubjeats, proteftants, and Jews of every nation, were
enjoined to depart from the province of Louifiana, and all com-
merce prohibited, except with Old Spain and her iflands, and nei-
ther of thefe having demand for the produce of Louifiana and
their returns, if any trade fhould take place, could not be employed
in the commerce of the Miffifippi.

General O‘Reily made great profeffions of friendfhip to the go-
vernor of Weft Florida, and affured him, upon every occafion, of his
wifhes to live in harmony with his Englith neighbours. His words
and actions widely differed ; he endeavoured to tamper with the
Indians fettled on our territories, and behaved with great inhofpi-
tality towards all Englifh fubjects who had occafion to go up the
river Miffifippi, and infringed the articles of peace, by fending
a party of foldiers to cut the hawfers of an Englith veflel, called

the

FT Na aay ne
nie

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI., 21

the Sva Flower, that had made faft to the bank of the river above
the town; the order was obeyed, and the veffel narrowly efcaped
being loft. It is impoffible for veffels to navigate upon the Miffifippi,
unlefs they are permitted to make faft to the fhore, as has been
explained in the foregoing part of this work; and if Englith vef-
fels are prevented, they cannot be faid to enjoy the free naviga-
tion of the river, conformable to the articles of the laft peace.

In Odtober, great and folemn preparations were made for the
trial of the prifoners charged with high treafon, who continued to
undergo a cruel and rigorous imprifonment until the 31ft of this
month. When they were brought before the high court of juftice,
as it was called, (it was more properly a court martial, the general
himfelf prefiding, and the other members being moftly Spanith
officers) all the prifoners were found guilty of the charge exhibited
again{t them; five were fentenced to be fhot, and feven to be con-
fined for ten years to the Moro caftle at the Havanna. Thofe con-
demned to death were executed the day following ; their names,
Monf. Lafriniere, king’s attorney; Monf. De Marquis, formerly
commandant of the Swifs companies at New Orleans, and knight
of the order of St. Louis ; Monf, De Noyant, captain of dragoons,
fon of the late king’s lieutenant of Louifiana; Pierre Careffe and
Petit, merchants. The names of thofe banifhed to the Mora,
Monf. De Mazant, formerly captain in the colony troops; Mont.
Garic, regifter of the council ; Meffrs. Douffet, Millet, fen. and
jun. and Poupet, merchants.

Monf. Foucault, the intendant, was fent prifoner to France.
Monf, Villeroy, one of the perfons firft arrefted, had embarked
with his flaves and moft valuable effects, defigning to throw
himfelf under the protection of the Englifh; but being after-
wards perfuaded of the fincerity of the Spanifh general’s pro-
mifes, he landed with his flaves and effets, and returned to his

plantation; he was fo enraged at the treachery that had been ufed
towards

22 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

towards him, and at the cruel treatment he received when in con-
finement, that he died raving mad. The fate of Monf, Lafrinier’s
daughter and only child is particularly lamentable; this young
lady was married but fome months before this dreadful event to
Monf. De Noyant, who was handfome in his perfon, and amiable
in his difpofition.

It is impoffible to refle& on this tragedy but with horror and
deteftation. When fraud or treachery are made ufe of to deftroy
an enemy, or punifh the guilty, it difgraces a nation and the name
of juftice.

It is remarkable, that the king of Spain, in his acceptation of
Louifiana, promifes the inhabitants their original form of go-
vernment, and to continue the French counfellors in his council ;
he alfo offers to receive all the troops employed by the king of
France in that country into his fervice; but the foldiers finding
that they were to receive no more pay than they had formerly been
allowed, which is confiderably lefs than the pay of Spanith troops,
refufed entering into that fervice to a man.

I have entered into this long digreflion concerning the govern-
ment of Louifiana, with a view of giving fome idea of its pre-~
fent political ftate. I fhall now return to an account of the fet-
tlements.

There are fome plantations on the Bayouk of St. John, and on
the road from thence to New Orleans. ‘The fettlements of Gen-
tilly are one mile from the Bayouk of St. John, on the fide of a
{mall creek, which alfo communicates with the lake Ponchartrain.
Cannes, Brule, Chapitoula, and the German fettlements join each
other, and are a continuation of well cultivated plantations of near
forty miles from New Orleans, on each fide of the river. At the
German fettlements, on the weft fide of the river, is a church

ferved

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 23

ferved by the capuchins; and a fmall ftockaded fort in the center
of the fettlements on the eaft fide of the river ; an officer and twelve
foldiers are kept there for the police of that quarter. This poft
was originally erected as an afylum for the inhabitants who firft
fettled there, and were much molefted by the Chaétaws and
Chickafhaws, who in alliance carried on a war againft the fettlers
on the Miffifippi. Their entry into this part of the colony was very
eafy, as they went up a finall creek, called Tigahoe, in canoes.
The entrance of this creek, which is in the lake Ponchartrain, is
defended by a {mall redoubt and a ferjeant’s guard.

Having now gone through the richeft and moft cultivated plan-
tations on the Miflifippi, it is neceflary to fay fomething of their
produce, which form the greateft part of the commerce of Loui-
fiana. ‘The different articles are indigo, cotton, rice, maiz,
beans, myrtle wax-candles, and lumber. The indigo of this
country is much efteemed for its beautiful colour and ‘good quality ;
the colour is brighter than that which is fabricated at St. Do-
mingo. The cotton, though of a moft perfect white, is of a very
fhort ftaple, and is therefore not in great requeft. The maiz,
different forts of beans, rice, and myrtle candles, are articles in
conftant demand at St. Domingo.

Some of the richeft planters, fince the year 1762, have begun
the cultivation of fugar, and have erected mills for fqueezing the
canes; the fugar produced in this country is of a very fine quality,
and fome of the crops have been very large; but no dependance
ean be had on this, as fome years the winters are too cold, and
kill the canes in the ground.

In the autumn the planters employ their flaves in cutting down
and fquaring timber, for fawing into boards and feantling; the
carriage of this timber is very eafy, for thofe who cut it at the back

of

Stes

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Se ES Bday.
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24 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

of their plantations make a ditch, which is fupplied with water
from the back fwamps, and by that means conduct their timber to
the river fide without labour; others fend their flaves up to the
cyprefs fwamps, of which there are a great many betwixt New
Orleans and Pointe Coupée; there they make rafts of the tim-
ber they cut, and float them down to New Orleans,

Many of the planters have faw-mills, which are worked by the
waters of the Miffifippi in the time of the floods, and then they
are kept going night and day till the waters fall. The quantity of
lumber fent from the Miflfifippi to the Weft India iflands is prodi-
gious, and it generally goes to a good market.

About ten leagues from the fort at the German fettlements are
the villages of the Houmas and Alibamons, The former were once
a confiderable nation of Indians, they are reduced now to about
forty warriors: the latter are about twenty families, being pait of
a nation which lived near fort Touloufe, on the river Alibamons,
and followed the French when they quitted that poft in the year
1762, One league further up is the Fourche de Chetimachas,
near which is the village of a tribe of Indians of that name ; they
reckon about fixty warriors. Three leagues above this is the
Conceffion of Monf. Paris, a pleafant fituation and good land;
large herds of cattle are now kept there, belonging to the inhabitants
of Pointe Coupée. The new fettlements of the Accadians are on
both fides of the river, and reach from the Germans to within
feven or eight miles of the river Ibbeville. Thefe are the re-
mainder of the families which were fent by general Lawrence
from Nova Scotia to our fouthern provinces; where, by. their
induftry, they did and might have continued to live very happy, but
that they could not publickly enjoy the Roman Catholic religion,
to which they are greatly bigotted. They took the carlieft. op-
portunity, after the peace, of tranfporting themfelves to St. Do-

mingo

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Nitabani

| P%o*hitehin Sendpe . ‘hep
erates a ‘ : : : = pecemnt t: OMchartcam _

TRIES er Be

eneenar- ne ~

? ? > > > /?
G
ie hoa cfrench League lo 4 eInch.

Indian Encangiment, wont canoed
Came Ut ad Jar ad His.

Lid far Nargahte
all the Tear 7 2 (Bateau lav here

DRAUGHT or THe
R. Ibbeville

Benga short conununtcation
e

from the Sea tothe frst of the
LEinglish Settlements on Mhe

MUaqUsSSIsiIPPi

ue fect ar ye®
&

'
)
ca
i
7 i i
i
é :

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPY, 25

mingo, where the climate difagreed with them fo much, that
they ina few months loft near half their numbers ; the remainder,
few only excepted, were, in the latter end of the year 1763, re~
moved to New Orleans, at the expence of the king of France. .
There are about three hundred families of. this unfortunate people:
fettled in different parts of Louifiana.

BE R EVER:

[ 26 ]

RIVER IBBEVILLE.

FE now come to the river Ibbeville, the fouth boundary of
V Weit Florida, and of the Englith poffeffions on the river
Miflifippi. The junétion of theIbbeville with the Miffifippi is thirty-
two leagues from New Orleans, fixty leagues from the Balize, and
ninety leagues frem Penfacola, by the way of the lakes. The pot
at the mouth of the river Ibbeville, on the banks of the Miffifippi,
has ever itruck ine, fron: ‘ts fituation, as of the greateft confe-
quence to the commerce o. =»! Florida; for it may with reafon
be fuppofed, that the inhabitan.s and traders who refide at Pointe
Coupce, at Natchitoches, Attacappa, Arcanfas, the Illinois, and
the poft of St. Vincent’s on the Ouabache, would rather trade at
this place than at New Orleans, if they could have as good returns
for their peltry and the produce of their country ; for it makes a
difference of ten days in their voyage, which is no inconfiderable
faving of labour, money, and time. The goods thefe people take
in return for their peltry, furs, tobacco, tallow, and bear’s oil,
are, {pirituous liquors, grocery, dry goods of all kinds, and all the
articles neceflary for their commerce with the favages. The only
dithculty that oppofes itfelf to this neceffary fettlement is the want
of a navigation through the river Ibbeville; fo that vefiels might
carry on a conftant intercourfe betwixt this place and Penfacola,
without going up the Miflifippi, which is a tedious navigation.
The better to thew the facility of accomplithing this, I thall here
infert a defcription of the paflage from lake Ponchartrain to the
Miffifippi, and dire€tions neceflary to be obferved in that naviga-
tion. The coaft of Weft Florida, from Penfacola to lake Pon-
chartrain, is fo well known that it is not neceflary to fay any thing
on that head. The defcription of the river Ibbeville, &c. was a.
report tranfmitted with plans and draughts, in the year 1765, to
his excellency general Gage.

D E-

[ 27 ]

DESCRIPTION

OF

M A Ss S§ I AG,

PART or tHe RIVER AMIT,
And the RIVER IBBEVILLE.

EFORE I begin the defcription and diredtions, it is neceffary
I fhould mention fome errors which have fubfifted in all geo-
graphical accounts hitherto given of that part of the country, which
IT have examined ; thefe I will endeavour to explain. The names
Maffiac, Manchaque, Afcantia, Amit, and Ibbeville, have been
fo confounded, that it is with difficulty a ftranger can know what
part of the country to apply one or other of them to; and thefe
errors {till fubfift with the French, fo that when this paffage is
talked of even amongft themfelves they confound one another, and
he who would fpeak of that part next the Miffifippi, is thought by
another to have faid fomething of the communication betwixt the
Jakes Ponchartrain and Maurepas. In order to avoid the fame
miftakes, it is proper thefe names fhould be diftinétly feparated ;
the way I think they fhould be underftood is this: The paflage
from lake Ponchartrain to lake Maurepas fhould be called the Maf-
fiac, and the two channels be diftinguifhed, by one being called
the S. W. and the other the N. W. The Amit fhould carry its name
as far as its current runs, which is from its fource, near Natches,
to where it empties itfelf into lake Maurepas, which is feventy
leagues. The Ibbeville I cannot underftand to be any thing more
E 2 than.

ial ; :
hie §

a

28 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

than a fmall creek, which is fupplied with water by the Miffifippi
and Amit. From March to September the former generally af-
fords water enough to make a navigation through ; the reft of the
year its whole fupply is from the latter, and that only for fix
leagues and ahalf up. By this rule I fhall go on with the defcription
and directions, which are as follow. Off the pafs at Maffiac, next
to the lake of Ponchartrain, is found three fathomns of water; and
there are not lefs fteering W. for the center of the pafs, which
when entered there is four or five fathoms, keeping mid-channel :
this depth of water will be carried all the way to lake Maurepas.
Two miles anda half up this channel is the point of an ifland,
which is formed by two channels; the entrance of the great chan-
nel, called by the French Grand Mafliac, lies N. W. and the little
one, which they call Le Petit Maffiac, N. W. by N. The great
channel is the beft, although the depth of water is - fame in
both ; but as the fhoals do not run fo far off the poinis, and as
the turnings are not fo great, nor fo many, the diftance is confe-
quently lefs ; for thefe reafons I fhould recommend the great chan-
nel for our conftant navigation. However advantageous it may
appear at firft fight to have a poft on the eaft end of the ifland, it
would anfwer no purpofe, as tiie favages go frequently into lake
Maurepas from lake Ponchartrain, by the river Tanchipao; which
for canoes and fmall boats is equally as good a navigation, becaufe
about three leagues up a branch of the Nitabani empties itfelf into
that river, and which is the communication from Tanchipao to
lake Maurepas. The opening of the lake Maurepas is about feven
miles from the eaft point of the ifland ; here it is neceflary to keep
near the ifland, as a fhoal bank runs off a point that lies fouth
about one mile and a half from the pafs. Steering by this di-

‘rection, there will not be found lefs than f-ven feet water on the

bar, and never ‘lefs than eight feet going through the lake. The
mouth of the river Amit bears weft foutherly ; by keeping near the
north fhore we do not leffen the water, but come at once into four
fathoms ; but go as we pleafe, we cannot find lefs than five feet.

v4 The

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 29

The mouth of this river is remarkable from being embayed, and
from a number of trees which ftand off the land in the lake and are
almoft covered with water. The land is overflowed when the
waters are high, about one foot and a half, as appears by the marks
on the trees, and continues fo near a league up the river, where
there is a fpot of land which appears to be never covered: all fuch
fpots I have fhewn in the annexed draught. But this is an obfer-
vation which may be made of the country throughout; that the
lands grow lower as we advance in the woods, and at three and
four hundred yards back from the river we never fail meeting with
bogs and fwamps. As the land is not much overflowed at the
mouth, it would be no difficult matter to make a bank for the fecu-
rity of a {mall poft there ; and if it fhould be ever thought neceflary,
materials are ready; there being fhells, with which lime may be
made, and very fine timber, fuch as cyprefs and elm. As I have
been very careful in making the draught, and marking every little
river that empties itfelf into this, I (hall fay nothing of them, only
that unlefs this draught is followed, or a pilot taken, miftakes
may be made by going up one of them, inftead of the river to be
purfued. The nearer we approach the junction of the Amit with
the Ibbeville the current becomes ftronger. When I went up, in
the month of March, I found within about three leagues of that
place a current running at the rate of three miles an hour, though
at the entrance at lake Maurepas it was fcarcely perceptible. From
the mouth of the Amit to the jun@tion of the Ibbeville feveral trees
are fallen down, which fhould be removed, otherwife the naviga~
tion is continually liable to interruptions by the logs floating down,
and being intercepted by them, which in a very little time would
form a barricado quite acrofs, fuch as there was when I went up,
and which was cleared by ten negroes fent down for that purpofe,
and my detachment. The depth of water from lake Maurepas to
the Ibbeville is from four to nine fathoms, and the diftance four-
teen leagues: here it is neceffary to ftrike the mafts when the
waters are high, as the branches-of the trees hang very low, and

intervene

30 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

intervene “ that “1 fome parts they form an arbour over the river.
Four leaves fu ‘ver up the lands are lower than in any other part
f the country, .he marks of the water on the trees being ten feet
above the Jand. At irregular diftances, as from one to three hun-
dred yards on each fide of the river, theré are high lands overgrown
with canes, and this place is called Tagoulafay ; here are a number
of {mall rivulets which run into the river; one league higher is
Anatamaha, which, in the Indian language, fignifies the fith-
place: it is properly called, for they abound here all the year,
which accounts for the vaft number of crocodiles that are continually
on the banks of this river. Sloops and {chooners may come as far
as this place when the waters are at the loweft, here never being
lefs than twelve feet water ; and at this time there is an eddy from
the river Amit which fets to the weftward. From hence to the
Miflifippi I think the trees fhould be cut down forty feet back from
the river fide, that a road might be made for carriages when the
waters are low, at which time the bed of the river is dry from the
Miffifippi; when the waters are high it will ftill be neceffary for
the navigation, as veflels may be tracked up by horfes or men ta
the Miffifippi, in the fame manner as lighters in England. The
river is too deep for fetting conveniently with poles, and too nar-
row for rowing; and the vaft ftrength of the current, at the time
of the floods, without there fhould be room for the oars, would
drive the batteaux into the woods, and it would be a difficult. matter
to find the way back to the river. My batteau went abaut one
mile above Anatamaha, but I could not get her any, higher, al-
though there was not lefs than four and five feet water all the way
to the Miflifippi, which is more than three leagues diftance (in-
cluding the turnings of the river), and when the waters are up.
there will be from eleven to cighteen feet water. At two leagues
to the weftward of Anatamaha the land is never covered above one
foot, which, when fecured from. the inundations of the river by
bank being thrown up, will be as good as any in Louifiana, and
will yield every produce natural to the climate.
More

—_— ree e.hUmvY

he

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI., 33

More than fix miles of the paflage of the river Ibieville is
choaked up by wood, which has been drawn in by the eddy from
the Miffifippi at the annual floods. The river, for fix miles below
its entrance, is not in general above fifty fect wide; many large
trees had fallen acrofs the river, which flopped the logs that were
floating down, and fo formed a barricado. In the beginning of the
year 1764, captain-lieutenant Campbell, late of the thirty-fourth
regiment, undertook to clear the river, and make it navigable ; and
by order of ma, r Farmer (who at that time commanded in Weft
Florida) hired upwards of fifty negroes for that purpofe. In the
month of Oétober, when the bed of the river was dry, they cut
the trees which had fallen acrofs into fhort logs, and cleared a
path-way on the fide of the river about eight miles down, throw-
ing the canes and all the rubbith into it; expecting that when the
Miffifippi fhould rife it would carry all before it. In December
captain Campbell reported that he had made the river perfectly navi-
gable. The negroes had unfortunately begun to cut the logs next
the Miffifippi, and had not cleared the embarraflments that were
on the lower parts of the river, which, when the floods came on,
intercepted fuch logs as floated down, and made the river ina
worfe condition than ever. A poft was eftablifhed in the fpring
following, and a detachment of thirty foldiers of the thirty-fourth
regiment, with officers, and an engineer; they built fome huts to
lodge themfelves, provifions, ftores, and Indian prefents ; and they
continued to work at the river, but to as little pnrpofe as the ne-
groes had done before. In July, the thirty-fourth regiment being
on their way to the Illinois, major Farmer took off the detachment,
leaving the engineer, an artillery officer, and three or four arti-
ficers, (moft of whom were in a fickly ftate) and the ftores,
to the mercy of the neighbouring Indians; who, within a few
days after the departure of the regiment, pillaged the poft, and
the poor defencelefs people were happy to efcape with their lives to

New Orleans, leaving the artillery and fuch things as the Indians
could

32 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

could not deftroy behind them. In the month of December, 1766,
governor Johnftone fent a detachment of the Scots fufileers, who
were lately arrived in Weft Florida, to repoffefs that poft; they
built a {mall ftockaded fort, which continued to be garrifoned by
-the troops from Penfacola in the year 1768, when I left that

place. I have fince heard that the garrifons at this poft and Natches
are withdrawn.

POINTE

{ 33 ]

POINTE COUPEE.

HE fettlements at Pointe Coupée commence about ten
leagues from the river Ibbeville ; they extend twenty miles
on the weft fide of the Miflifippi; and there are fome plantations
back on the fide of (what is generally called) /a fauffe riviere, thro’
which the Miffifippi paffed about fixty years ago; making the
fhape of a crefcent, and made a difference to the voyager of near
eight leagues. It is faid that about that time two Canadians were
defcending the river, but were ftopped at the beginning of this
crefcent by the roughnefs of the waves, occafioned by the wind
blowing very hard againft the current., One of thefe travellers
chofe to amufe himfelf with his gun until the wind fhould abate:
and that he might not lofe his way in the woods, he determined to
follow a little brook, which had been made by the inundations of
the river; he had gone but a fmall diftance, when he again found
himfelf by the fide of the river, and faw the white cliffs before
him; which ae knew by the courfe of the Miflifippi to be eight
leagues from the place where he left his companion ; to whom he
- immediately returned, and acquainted him with this difcovery. They
agreed to endeavour to get their canoe acrofs, as there was about a
foot water in the brook, which had a little flope towards the lower
part of the river; they got their canoe into the brook, and cut away
the roots of trees and bufhes that obftructed its paffage, and the
waters of the Miffifippi entering feconded their endeavours, fo that
in a fhort time they effected their purpofe. It is reported that in
lefs than fix years after the Miffifippi pafled entirely through this
channel, leaving its former bed quite dry, and which is now diffi-
cult to trace, being mofily filled up, and overgrown with trees.

F The

This anki

RR SS ET A A AE OE

_ —s ee

——<—<—<—————————
a

——————"

34 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI,

The fort, which is a quadrangle with four baftions, is built with
with ftockades, and contains a very handfome houfe for the com-
manding officer, good barracks for the foldiers, ftore-houfes, gnd
a prifon. The commanding officer is chofen from one of the
eldeft captains of the colony; the authority of the governor is de-
legated to him, and the ftorekeeper is the reprefentative of the in-
tendant. There are feldom more than twelve foldiers at this place,
who are for no other purpofe than to preferve good order. The
fort is fituated on the fide of the Miflifippi, about fix miles above
the loweft plantation. The :hurch is very near the fort, and is
ferved by a capuchin ; there are three companies of militia in this.
canton, chofen from the white inhabitants, who amount to about
two thoufand of all ages and fexes, and about, feven thoufand flaves.
They cultivate tobacco and indigo, raife vaft quantities of poultry,
which they fend to the market of New Orleans, and furnith to the
fhipping; they fquare a great deal. of timber and make faves,
which they fend down in rafts to New Orleans. The inhabitants
cultivated maize and other provifions on the eaft fide of the river ;
but after the peace, when that fide of the Miffifippi was ceded to
the Englifh, fuch as had houfes there, who were but few, re-
moved to the weft fide, which remained to the French.

TONICAS

T O N C AS.

N the eaft fide of the river, and about two miles above the

laft plantation of Pointe Coupée, is the village of the Tcni-
cas, formerly a numerous nation of Indians; but their conftant
intercourfe with the French, and immoderate ufe of fpirituous li-
quors, has reduced them to about thirty warriors. They at-
tacked the 22d regiment, commanded by major Loftus, when on
their way to take pofleflion of the Illinois, on the 2oth of March,
1764, at the Roche de Davion; they killed five men and wounded
four, that were in two canoes which went a-head of the convoy :
although they fired on the other boats they did no other damage, but
prevented the regiment proceeding on its enterprize. The foldiers
did not land, as their enemies were concealed in the wood, and
their numbers unknowns they occupied both fides of the river,
and the current in the middle of the ftream run at the rate of five
miles an hour: we have been very credibly informed that fome of
the French of Pointe Coupée, and their flaves, aflifted the Tonicas
in this attack.

[ 36 ]
P EuL.oO v8 A &.

HE fmall river of Peloufas is ten leagues above the fettle-
ments of Pointe Coupée, and one league below the mouth
of the river Rouge ; it receives its name from the natives, and its
waters from a lake which lies about forty leagues S. W. of the place
whereit empties itfelf intothe Miffifippi. Twenty-five leagues up this
Tiver is a fettlement, known by: the name of Peloufas and Atta-
cappa; it is formed by about fixty families ef Accadians, difcharged
foldiers, und inhabitants from fort Touloufe, on the river Aliba-
mons, who have a few flaves. They raife tobacco, maize, and
wheat; the latter only for their own confumption. They have.
large herds of cattle, and follow the Indian commerce. They,
have a finall church, and a capuchin miffionary refides with them..
This fettlement was made under the direétion of Monf. D’Abbadie,
in the year 1763, and was governed by a French officer, named,
Pelrin, till the year 1767, when the inhabitants, who had been.
oppreffed by the tyranny, which has been always exerted by officers
of that nation commanding out-pofts, complained to Don Antonio.
D’Ulloa, and Monf. Aubry accufing him alfo of facrilege, he having
forcibly taken poffeffion of the plate deftined to the ufe of the
altar, and vfed it at his own table, under pretence of keeping it in
fecurity. This worked his ruin more effe@.ually than his ill treat-
ment of the inhabitants, and he was threatened with excommuni-
cation ; however he was punifhed by undergoing fevere penances
enjoined by the priefts, and rendered incapable, by the fentence
of a court-martial of French officers, of auy employment military
or civil, The government of this fettlement was afterwards vefted.
in a magiftrate to be chofen annually by the inhabitants from
amongft themfelves. One company of militia was alfo raifed for
the defence of the eftablifhment, and the officers receive pay from
the Spanith government,
NATCHES;

[ 37 ] \" ,
i |
NAT CHE S. i

which, from its fituation and foil, is the fineft and moft
fertile part of Weft Florida. The fort is about fix hundred and feventy
yards from the river’s fide. The road to it is very bad, on account of
a fteep high ground which is at a fmall diftance from the landing-
place, very difficult to afcend, and almoft impracticable for carriages ;
a finall diftance from this high land is a hill, on the fummit of which
{tands the fort, and. the road becomes much better, afcending with.
a gradual flope. The trouble. of going up is recompenfed by the
fight of a moft delightful country of great extent, the profpect of.

Wi
HIRT Y-four leagues from the river Rouge is the Natches,

;
/
which is beautifully varied by a number of little hills and fine :
: ea}
|

meadows, feparated by {mall copfes, the trees of which are motiy
walnut and oak. The country is well watered, hops grow wild,
and all kinds of European fruits come to great perfection. The
fences of many of the gardens made by the French ftill remain,
and feveral fruit-trees, moftly figs, peaches, and wild cherries.
The French always efteemed the tobacco produced here, as pre-
ferable to any cultivated in other parts of America. This country

was once famous for i-s: inhabitants, who from their great num- He
bers, and the ftate of fuciety they lived in, were confidered as the Hh
moft civilized Indians on the continent of America.. They lived.
fome years in great friendfhip with the French, whorn they per-
mitted to fettle on their lands, and to whom they rendered i
every fervice in their power. Their hotpitality was repaid with |
ingratitude. The French debauched, and fometimes ravifhed the

women, and tyrannized over the men; every day brought them. Mt
fome new difgrace. They determined to get rid of their oppref- |

fors, and on the eve of St. Andrew, 1729, they furprifed the fort, .
and put. the whole garrifon to death; at the fame time they made.
a_maf--

38 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

a maflacre of the inhabitants, in‘which upwards of five hundred were
killed, fome of the women and children they made prifoners ; very
few of either fex efcaped. The whole colony armed to revenge
their flaughtered countrymen, and they had feveral tkirmifhes with
the Natches, in which the fuccefs was various. In 1730 Monf.
De Perrier de Salvert, brother to the governor, arrived from France,
with the rank of lieutenant-general in Louifiana, and five hundred
regular troops, who joined the troops and militia of the colony. This
army, amounting to fifteen hundred men, went, under the command
«the two brothers, to attack the nation of Natches ; who, with their
chiefs, determined to defend themfelves in a fort they had built
near a Jake which communicates with the Bayouk Dargent, lying
weft of the Natches, and north of the river Rouge. They in-
vefted this fort, and the Indians made a very refolute and vigorous
fally on them, but were repulfed, after a confiderable lofs on both
fides. The c’rench, having brought two or three mortars, threw fome
fhells into the fort; which making a havock amongft their women
and children, fo terrified the Indians, unufed to this fort of war,
that they furrendered at difcretion, and were conducted to New
Orleans, except a few who had efcaped to the Chickafhaws, with
their hunters, who were providing provifions for their garrifon.
Some of the unfortunate prifoners were burnt at New Orleans,
and the reft were fent as flaves to the Weft India iflands ; fome of
whom, fhewing their refentment by upbraiding the authors of their
mifery, were thrown into the fea. Nothing now remains of this na-
tion but their name, by which their country continues to be called.

When I made the furvey of fort Rofalia, which was in the month
of Auguft, I obferved that the Miffifippi had fallen thirty-fix feet.
The breadth of thy river at this place is exactly eighteen hundred
and feventy feet, >. the fort ftands one hundred and eighty feet
above the furface of the water. It is an irregular pentagon, with-
out baftions, and is built of plank of five inches thick ; the buildings
within the fort are a ftore-houfe, a houfe for the officers, a barrack
1 for

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 39

for the foldiers, and a guard-houfe. Thefe buildings are made of
framed timber, filled up with mud and barbe Efpagnole, (a kind of
mofs, which grows in great abundancé on all the trees in Loui-
fiana) and in this country that manner of building houfes is very
common. The barbe Efpagnole (which much refembles a black.
curly beard) is alfo made ufe of for ftuffing mattreffes.

The ditch is partly made and partly natural ; the bottom is in
moft places nineteen feet from the top of the rampart, and in many

twelve and thirteen from the top of the counterfcarp ; on the north.

fide of the fort there is no ditch at all, but it is fenced with
pickets, to prevent an enemy getting under the cover of the coun-
terfcarp or into the ditch. The rampart is nearly the fame height
above the pickets as it is in other parts above the bottom of the
ditch. The fort received the name of Rofalia in honour to Mad.
Ta ducheffe de Ponchartrain, whofe hufband was minifter of France:
when it was built.

[ 4 ]

POST or ARCANSAS.

HE fort is fituated three leagues up the river Arcanfas, and

is built with ftockades, in a quadrangular form; the fides
of the exterior polygon are about one hundred and eighty feet, and
one three pounder is mounted in the flanks and faces of each baftion.
The buildings within the fort are, a barrack with three rooms for the
foldiers, commanding officer’s houfe, a powder magazine, and a ma-
gazine for provifion, and an apartment for the commiffary, all which
are ina ruinous condition. The fort ftands about two hundred yards
from the water-fide, and is garrifoned by a captain, a lieutenant, and
thirty French foldiers, including ferjeants and corporals. There are
eight houfes without the fort, occupied by as many families, who have
cleared the land about nine hundred yards in depth ; but on account
of the fandinefs of the foil, and the lownefs of the fituation, which
makes it fubject to be overflowed, they do not raife their neceflary
provifions, Thefe people fubfift moftly by huating, and every feafon
fend to New Orleans great quantities of bear’s oil, tallow, falted
buffaloe meat, and a few fkins. The Arcanfas or Quapas Indians
live three leagues above the fort, on the fide of the river ; they are
divided into three villages, over each of which prefides a chief,
and a great chief over all; they amount in all to about fix hundred
warriors; they are reckoned amongft the braveft of the fouthern In-
dians ; they hunt little more than for their common fubfiftence,
and are generally at war with the nations to the weftward of them,
as far as the river Bravo, and they bring in very frequently young
prifoners and horfes from the Cadodaquias, Paneife, Podoquias, &c.
of which they difpofe to the beft advantage.

The river Arcanfas is generally efteemed to be in the soft mo-
derate climate of any part of Louifiana, and the lands (x leagues

“P

PLAN or FoRT ROSALIA.

References,
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OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 4!

u, the river are reckoned as fertile. It was here that the famous
Mr. Laws had his Conceflion, which was a tract of four leagues
fquare; when he failed, the Germans, whom he fettled in this
country, left it, being too remote. They, on their petition, had
lands granted them ten leagues above New Orleans, and which
their pofterity at prefent poffefs.

There are no more fettlements or. pofts near the banks of the
Miffifippi, until we come to Cafcafquias, which is three hundred
and feventy leagues from ti.> fea, but generally called four hundred ;
it lies in the latitude 37° 43 north, and is the firft village in the
country of the Illinois.

G CAS-

[ 42 ]

CASCASQUIAS.

HE village of Notre Dame de Cafcafquias is by far the

moft confiderable fettlement in the country of the Illinois,
as well from its number of inhabitants, as from its advantageous
fituation ; it ftands on the fide of a {mall river, which is about eighty
yards acrofs ; its fource lies north-ealt, about fixty leagues from the
village, and fifteen leagues eaft of the remarkable rock of Peo-
rya *, and it empties itfelf with a gentle current into the Miffifippi,
near two leagues below the village. This river is a fecure port for
large batteaux, which can lie fo clofe to its bank as to load and
unload without the leaft trouble; and at all feafons of the year
there is water enough for them to come up. It muft be obferved
here, that it is extremely dangerous for batteaux or boats to remain
in the Miffifippi, on account of the bank falling in, and the vatt
number of logs and trees which are fent down, with a violent
force, by the rapidity of the current, as alfo on account of the
heavy gales of wind to which this ‘climate is fubje&t. Another
great advantage that Cafcafquias receives from its river is the faci-
lity with which mills for corn and planks may be erected on it:
Monf. Paget was the firft who introduced water-mills in this
country, and he conftructed a very fine one on the river Cafcafquias,
which was both for grinding corn and fawing boards ; it lies about
one mile from the village. The mill proved fatal to him, being
killed as he was working in it, with two negroes, by a party of
the Cherokees, in the year 1764. The principal buildings are,
the church and jefuits houfe, which has a fmall chapel adjoining
to it ; thefe, as well as fome other houfes in the village, are built

* There is in a fort of nich in this rock a figure that bears fome refemblance to.a
man ; the Indians who pafs by pay their adorations to it, imagining it fomething fu-
pernatural, and that it has an influence over their fortunes.

I of

OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI. 43

of ftone, and, confidering this part of the world, make a very good
appearance. The jefuits plantation confifted of two hundred and
forty arpens of cultivated land, a very good ftock of cattle, anda
brewery; which was fold by the French commandant, after the
country was ceded to the Englith, for the crown, in confequence
of the fuppreffion of the order. Monf, Beauvais was the purchafer,
who is the richeft of the Englith fubjects in this country ; he keeps
eighty flaves ; he furnifhed eighty-fix thoufand weight of flour to
the king’s magazine, which was only a part of the harveft he
reaped in one year. Sixty-five families refide in this village, befides
merchants, other cafual people, and flaves. The fort, which was
burnt down in October 1766, ftood on the fummit of a high rock
oppofite the village, and on the other fide of the river; it was an
oblongular quadrangle, of which the exterior polyge:; meafured two
hundred and ninety by two hundred and fifty-one feet; it was
built of very thick fquared timber, and dove-tailed at the angles.
An officer and twenty foldiers are quartered in the village. The of-
ficer governs the inhabitants, under the direction of the commandant
at fort Chartres. Here are alfo two companies of militia.

{ 44 ]

LA PRAIRE DE ROCHES

A PRAIRIE DE ROCHES is about feventeen miles

from Cafcafquias ; it is a fmall village, confifting of twelve
dwelling-houfes, all which are inhabited by as many families
here is a little chapel, formerly a chapel of eafe to the church at
Fort de Chartres. The inhabitants here are very induftrious, and
raife a great deal of corn and every kind of ftock. This village is
two miles from Fort Chartres; it takes its name from its fituation,
being built under a rock that runs parallel with the river Miffifippi
at a league diftance, for forty leagues up. Here is a company of
militia, the captain of which regulates the police of the village.

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[ 45 ]

FORT CHARTRES,

ORT CHARTRES when it belonged to France was the

feat of government of the Illinois ; the head quarters of the
Englifh commanding officer is now here, who is, in faét, the ar-
bitrary governor of this country. The fort is an irregular quacran-
gle, the fides of the exterior polygon are four hundred and ninety
feet; it is built of ftone and plaiftered over, and is only defigned as a
defence againft the Indians, the walls being two feet two inches thick,
and pierced with loop-holes at regular diftances, and with two port-
holes for cannon in the faces, and two in the flanks of each baftion;
the ditch has never been finifhed ; the entrance to the fort is through
a very handfome ruftic gate: within the wall is a fmall banquette,
raifed three feet, for the men to ftand on when they Are through
the loop-holes. The buildings within the fort are, the comman-
dant’s and commiffary’s houfes, the magazine of ftores, corps de
garde, and two barracks; thefe occupy the fquare. Within the
gorges of the baftions are, a powder magazine, a bakehoufe, a
ptifon, in the lower floor of which are four dungeons, and in the
upper two rooms, and an out-houfe belonging to the commandant.,
The commandant’s houfe is thirty-two yards long, and ten broad ;
it contains a kitchen, a dining-room, a bed-chamber, one fmall
room, five clofets for fervants, and a cellar, The commiffary’s
houfe (now occupied by officers) is built in the fame line as this,
its proportions and diftribution of apartments are the fame. Op-
pofite thefe are the (tore-houle and guard-houfe, they are each thirty:
yards long and eight broad; the former confifls of two large ftore-
zooms (under which is a large vaulted cellar) and a large room, a:
bed-chamber, and a clofet for the ftore-keeper; the latter, of a.
foldier’s and officer’s guard-rooms, a chapel, a bed-chamber and
clofet for the chaplain, and an artillery ftore-room.. The lines of
2 barracks

46 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

barracks have never been finifhed; they at prefent confift of two
rooms each, for officers, and three rooms for foldiers; they are
good fpacious rooms of twenty-two feet fquare, and have betwixt
them a fmall paffage. There are fine fpacious lofts over each
building which reach from end to end; thefe are made ufe of to
lodge regimental ftores, working and intrenching tools, &c. It
is generally allowed that this is the moft commodious and beft
built fort in North America. The bank of the Miffifippi, next
the fort, is continually falling in, being worn away by the current,
which has been turned from its courfe by a fand-bank, now ene
creafed to a confiderable ifland covered with willows: many expe-
riments have been tried to ftop this growing evil, but to no purpofe.
When the fort was began in the year 1756, it was a good half
mile from the water-fide ; in the year 1766 it was but eighty
paces; eight years ago the river was fordable to the ifland, the
channel is now forty feet deep. In the year 1764 there were
about forty families in the village near the fort, and a parifh
church, ferved by a Francifcan friar, dedicated to St. Anne. In the
following year, when the Englith took poffeffion of the country,
they abandoned their houfes, except three or four poor families,
and fettled at the villages on the weft fide of the Miflifippi, chufing
to continue under the French government.

{ 47 ]

SATIN T “PHILIP 'P g.

Spent PHILIPPE is a fmall village about five miles from
Fort Chartres, in the road to Kaoquias; there are about fix-
- teen houfes and a fmall church ftanding ; all the inhabitants, ex-
cept the captain of militia, deferted it in 1765, and went to the
French fide: the captain of militia has about twenty flaves, a good
ftock of cattle, and a water-mill for corn and planks. This
village ftands in a very fine meadow, about one mile from the
Miffifippi.

[ 48 J

KoA 60 Qik ob c& 1S

HE village of Sainte Famille de Kaoquias is generally

reckoned fifteen leagues from Fort Chartres, and fix leagues
below the mouth of the river Miffoury ; it ftands near the fide of
the Miffifippi, and is mafked from the river by an ifland of two
leagues long ; the village is oppofite the center of this ifland ; it is
long and ftraggling, being three quarters of a mile from one end to
the other; it contains forty-five dwelling-houfes, and a church
near its center. The fituation is not well chofen, as in the floods
it is generally overflowed two or three feet. This was the firft fet-
tlement on the river Miffifippi. The land was purchafed of the
favages by a few Canadians, fome of whom married women of the
Kaoquias nation, and others b:ought wives from Canada, and then
refided there, leaving their children to fucceed them. The inha-
bitants of this place depend more on hunting, and their Indian
trade, than on agriculture, as they fcarcely raife corn enough for
their own confumption : they have a great deal of poultry and good
ftocks of horned cattle. The miffion of St. Sulpice had a very fine
plantation here, and an excellent houfe built on it; they fold this
eftate, and a very good mill for corn and planks, to a Frenchman
who chofe to remain under the Englith government. They alfo
difpofed of thirty negroes anda good ftock of cattle to different
people in the country, and returned to France in the year 1764.
What is called the fort is a fmall houfe ftanding in the center of
the village ; it differs in nothing from the other houfes except in
being one of the pooreft ; it was formerly enclofed with high pal-
lifades, but thefe were torn down and burnt. Indeed a fort at this
place could be of but little ufe.

[ 49 ]

SAINT LOUIS, orn PAINCOURT.

FIIS village is one league and a half above Kaoquias, on the
) welt fide of the Miffifippi, being the prefent head quarters
of the French in thefe parts. It was firft eftablithed in the year
1764, by a company of merchants, to whom Monf. D’Abbadie
had given an exclufive grant for the commerce with the Indian na-
tions on the river Miffoury ; and for the fecurity and encourage-
ment of this fettlement, the ftaff of French officers and the com-
miflary were ordered to remove there, upon the rendering Fort
Chartres to the Englith ; and great encouragement was given to
the inhabitants to remove with them, moft of whom did. The com-
pany has built a large houfe, and ftores here, and there are about
forty private houfes, and as many families. No fort or barracks
are yet built. The French garrifon confifts of a captain-comman-
dant, two lieutenants, a fort-major, one ferjeant, one corporal,
and twenty men.

[ 50 ]

SAINTE GENEVIEUVE, or MISERE.

HE firft fettlers of this village removed about twenty-eight

years ago from Cafcafquias: the goodnefs of the foil and
the plentiful harvefts they reaped made them perfectly fatisfied
with the place they had chofen. The fituation of the village is
very convenient, being within one league of the falt {pring, which
is for the general ufe of the French fubjects, and feveral perfons be-
longing to this village have works here, and make great quantities of
falt for the fupply of the Indians, hunters, and the other fettleraents.
A lead mine, which fupplies the whole country with fhot, is about
fifteen leagues diftance. The communication of this village with
Cafcafquias is very fhort and eafy, it being only to crofs the Miffi-
fippi, which is about three quarters of a mile broad at this place,
and then there is a portage, two miles diftance, tc Cafcafquias,
This cuts off eighteen miles by water, fix down the river Cafcaf-
quias and twelve up the Miffifippi. The village of St. Louis is fup-
plied with flour and other provifions from hence. An officer ap-
pointed by the French commandant has the entire regulation of
the police. Here is a company of militia, commanded by a
Monf. Valet, who refides at this place, and is the richeft in-
habitant of the country of the Illinois; he raifes great quanti-
ties of corn and provifions of every kind; he has one hundred ne-
groes, befides hired white peopie, conftantly employed. The vil-
lage is about one mile in length and contains about feventy families.
Here is a very fine water-mill, for corn and planks, belonging to
Monf. Valet.

OF THE

COUNTRY or tue ILLINOIS.

HE country of the Illinois is bounded by the Miffifipp,

on the weft, by the river Illinois on the north, by the
rivers Ouabache and Miamis on the eaft, and the Ohio on the
fouth.

The air in general is pure, and the fky ferene, except in the
month of March and the latter end of September, when there are
heavy rains and hard gales of wind. The months of May, June,
July, and Auguft, are exceffive hot, and fubje&t to fudden and
violent ftorms; January and February are extremely cold; the
other months of the year are moderate. The principal Indian
fations in this country are, the Cafcafquias, Kaoquias, Mitchi-
gamias, and Peoryas; thefe four tribes are generally called the
Illinois Indians: except in the hunting feafons, they refide neac
the Englith fettlements in this country, where they have built
their huts. They are a poor, debauched, and daftardly people,
They count about three hundred and fifty warriors. The Pean-
quichas, Mafcoutins, Miamis, Kickapous, and Pyatonons, though
not very numerous, are a brave and warlike people. The fail of
this country in general is very rich and luxuriant ; it produces all .
forts of European grains, hops, hemp, flax, cotton, and tobacco,
and European fruits come to great perfection. The inhabitants make
wine of the wild grapes, which is very inebriating, and is, in
colour and tafte, very like the red wine of Provence. The coun-
try abounds with buffalo, deer, and wild-fowl, particularly ducks,
geefe, fwans, turkies, and pheafants. The rivers and lakes afford
plenty of fith.

H 2 In

52 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

In the late wars, New Orleans and the lower parts of Loui-
fiana were fupplied with flour, beer, wines, hams, and other
provilions from this country: at prefent its commerce is moftly
confined to the peltry and furs,+ which are got in traffic from the
Indians; for which are received in return fuch European com-
modities as are neceflary to carry on that commerce and the fup-
port of the inhabitants. 2

C 53 ]

OF THE

GOVERNMEN T

OF THE

COUNTRY or ILLINOIS,

WHEN BELONGING TO THE FRENCH,

HIS country, when in poffeffion of the French, was go-

verned by a military officer, called the major-commandant,
who was appointed by the governor of New Orleans; he was al-
ways a man connected with the governor by intereft or relationthip ;
he was abfolute in his authority, except in matters of life and
death ; capital offences were tried by the council at New Orleans :
the whole Indian trade was fo much in the power of the comman-
dant, that nobody was permitted to be concerned in it, but on
condition of giving him part of the profits. Whenever he made
prefents to the Indians, in the name of his king, he received pel-
try and furs in return; as the prefents he gave were to be confidered
as marks of his favour and love for them, fo the returns they made
were to be regarded as proofs of their attachment to him. Speeches
accompanied by prefents were called paroles de valeur ; any Indians
who came to a French poft were fubfifted at the expence of the
king during their ftay, and the {welling this account was no in-
confiderable emolument.

As every bufinefs the commandant had with the Indians was
attended with certain profit, it is not furprifing that he fpared no
pains to gain their affections ; and he made it equally the intereft
of the officers under him to pleafe them, by permitting them to

trade

54 OF THE RIVER MISSISIPPI.

trade, and making them his agents in the Indian countries. If any
perfon brought goods within the limits of his jurifdiction, without
his particular licence, he would oblige them to fell their merchan-
dife, at a very moderate profit, to the commiffary, on the king's ac-
count, calling it an emergency of government, and employ the fame
goods in his own private commerce: it may eafily be fuppofed,
from what has been before faid, that.a complaint to the governor
of New Orleans would meet with very little redrefs. It may be
efked, if the inhabitants were not offended at this monopoly of
trade and arbitrary proceedings ? The commandant could beftow
many favours on them, fuch as giving contracts for furnifhing pro-
vifions, or performing publick works; by employing them in his
trade, or by making their children cadets, who were allowed pay
and provifions, and could when they were grown up recommend
them for commiffions. They were happy if by the wmoft fervile
and fubmiffive behaviour they could gain his conidence and favour.
Every perfon capable of bearing arms was enrolled in the militia,
and a captain of militia and officers were appointed to each parifh ;
the captain of militia regulated corvées and other perfonal fervice.
From this military form of government the authority of the com-
mandant was almoft univerfal. The commiffary was a mere cy-
pher, and rather kept for form than for any real ufe; he was al-
ways a perfon of low dependence, and never dared counteract the
will of the commandant.

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{ 55 ]

Or rut INHABITANTS

HE firft white inhabitants of the Illinois came from Ca-
. nada; fome brought wives and families with them, others
married Indian women in thofe countries ; there is ftill a continual
intercourfe between them and the Canadians. The men of thefe
countries are very fuperftitious and ignorant; they are in general
active and well made; they are as good hunters, can bear as much
fatigue, and are as well acquainted with the woods, as the Indians;
moft of them have fome knowledge of the dialects of the neigh-
bouring Indians and much affeét their manners. The price of la-
bour in general is very high, as moft of the young men rather
chufe to hunt and trade amongft the Indians, than apply to agri-
culture or become handicrafts. At the Wlinois a man may be
boarded and lodged the year round on condition of his working
two months, one month in ploughing the land and fowing the
corn, and one month in the harveft. The only trades they have
amongft them are carpenters, fmiths, mafons, taylors, and mill-
wrights. The number of white inhabitants in this country, ex-
clufive of the troops, are about tw oufand, of all ages and fexes ;
in this number are included thofe who live at Fort St. Vincent's,
on the Ouabache. Thirty French foldiers were withdrawn from
thence in the latter end of the year 1764. The inhabitants at this
poft live much at their eafe, having every thing neceffary for theic
fubfiftence of their own production, Their commerce is the fame
as that of the othe: inhabitants of this country.

A R~

==—aaetubeiieninanaiaiaaaae

L’A R R E T

DE LA

COUR SUPERIEURE pz ta PROVINGE,

Mentioné a la page 16.

OUIS, par la grace de Dieu, roi de France & de Navarre, 4

tous ceux qui ces préfentes verront, falut: Savoir faifons, que
vii par le confeil fupérieur de la province de Louifianne, les trés-
humbles reprefentations faites cejourd’hui a la cour, par tous les ha-
bitans, négocians, artizans, & autres peuples, icelles expofitives,
que le foulagement d’un peuple dont le confeil eft le pere, le main-
tien des loix dont il eft le depofitaire & V’interprette, les progrés de
Vagriculture & du commerce dont il eft le proteéteur, font les mo-
tifs des reprefentations des dits habitans & negocians, &c. Quels
objets pour le confeil! Pourroit-il, aprés les avoir envifagez en re-
garder d’autres, qu’autant qu’ils concourent 4 favorifer ceux-li?
Qu’il fufpende pour quelques momens fes penibles travaux, pour fe
livrer aux fujets qui font reprefentés aujourd’hui, comme les plus
dignes de fon attention & de fon miniftere : & toi dont le profpérité
fait l'objet de nos plus ardens defirs, toi qui es pour nous ce que
Sparthe, Athenes, & Rome etoient pour leurs zélés citoyens; O chere
patrie! Permets nous d’acquitter une dette legitime en te confa-
crant ce foible tribut de notre amour; nos ceeurs vont le diéter,
une main docile va fe preter a leurs infpirations.

Sept millions de papiers royaux formoient tout le numéraire de
cette colonie & la fortune des citcyens; la privation totale de ce
capital, dont S. M. fufpendit le payement par un arrét du mois

| d’'OGobre

E,

nos
bre

pee]

A R R E ey

OF THE

SUPERIOR COUNCIL or tuz PROVINCE,
Referred to in page 16.

OUIS, by the grace of God, king of France and of Na-

varre, to all thofe who fhall fee thefe prefents, greeting, We
make it known that the fuperior council of the province of Loui-
fiana, having taken into confideration the humble reprefentations
made this day to that court by all the inhabitants, merchants, ar-
tifans, and others ; and thefe laying before it, that the relief of a
people, to whom the council is a father; the fupport of the laws,
of which it is the depofitory and interpreter ; and the improvement
of agriculture and commerce, of which it is the patron, are the
motives of the reprefentations of faid inhabitants and merchants,
&c. What important objects are thefe for the council! Can it,
after having duly confidered them, give attention to any other, far-
ther than as they contribute to favour thefe? Let it for a few mo-
ments fufpend its labours to attach itfelf to thofe fubje@s, which
are now reprefented as moft worthy of its attention and its miniftry :
and you, whofe profperity is the object of our moft ardent withes ;
you who are to us what Sparta, Athens, and Rome were to their
zealous citizens, O dear country! fuffer us to pay a lawful debt,
by confecrating to you this weak tribute of our love, a tribute
dictated by our hearts, which are feconded by an obedient hand,
ready to perform what they infpire.

Seven millions of royal paper made all the currency of this
colony, and the fortune of its citizens ; the total privation of this
capital, the payment of which his majefty fufpended by an edict of

I the

[ 58 ]
d'Octobre 1759, a mis la province de la Louifiane dans la plus de-
plorable fituation. On n’entreprendra pas de faire un detail des ca-
Jamités, des renverfemens des fortunes, de la ruine des familles qui
ont été les fuites funeftes de cette cataftrophe ; la cour en a fous les
yeux un tableau plus frappant qu’on ne fgauroit le peindre, toutes
les fois qu'elle s’affemble pour étre les arbitres des malheureufes
victimes de cet evénement, Revenus de l'abattement dans lequel
ils avoient été plongés, les citoyens de la Louifiane commencoient
enfin a refpirer ; ils avoient envilagé la fin de la guerre comme la
fin de leurs malheurs, & vivoient dans l’efperance que le retour de
la paix auroit été le moment deftiné pour leur foulagement. L’agri-
culture, (difoit habitant) cette richeffe la plus rcelle des nations,
cette fource feconde dont coulent tous les biens dont on jouit, va
étre animée & reftituera au centuple pendant la paix, les pertes
que l’on a effuyé pendant la guerre; le commerce, fans lequel
les fruits de la terre n’ont ni prix, ni valeur, va étre vivifié &
protégé (difoit le negociant) douces illufions! Projets flateurs,
qu’étes vous devenus? Le cultivateur, le commergant, tous les
états de la colonie éprouvent dans la plus profonde paix, des
revers & des calamités qu’ils n’avoient point reffenti pendant une
longue & cruelle guerre. Le premier coup dont la colonie a été
frappé eft la nouvelle de la ceffion que fa majefté en a faite X
lEfpagne; on ne s’étonnera point fans doute, de la profonde trif-
teffe dont cet evénement a pénétré tous les cceurs; les Frangois
aiment leur prince par deflus toutes chofes, & un heureux préjugé
fait pancher naturellement tous les hommes vers le gouvernement
dans lequel ils font nés; jettons une voile fur cet evénement, la
plume tombe des mains d'un Frangois.quand il veut l’approfondir. .
Ce qui occupe ferieufement aujourd’hui & qui doit aufli fixer toute
l'attention de la cour, ce font les avant-coureurs des chaines dont
une nouvelle adminiftration menace les colons de Ja Louifiane.
Tantét c’eft une compagnie exclufive, qui doit au préjudice de la
nation, faire le commerce de toutes les poffeflions qui reftent aux
Francois

[ 59 ]

the month of October, 1759, has reduced the province of Loui-
fiana to the moft deplorable fituation. We fhall not undertake to
enter into a detail of the calamities, of the ruined fortunes, of the
downfal of familics, which were the fatal confequences of that
cataftrophe ; the court has before its eyes a more ftriking pidture of
thofe than it is poflible for us to paint, every time it affembles to
take cognizance of the unhappy victims of this event. Recovered
from the dejection into which they had been plunged, the citizens
of Louifiana at laft began to take heart. They had confidered the
conclufion of the wa: as the end of their misfortunes, and enter-
tained hopes that the return of peace would be the moment deftined
for their relief. Agriculture, faid the inhabitants, that real wealth
of a nation, that prolific fource from whence flow all the bleffings
which we enjoy, will now be revived, and will reftore a hundred
fold during the peace, the loffes which we underwent during the
war ; commeice, without which the fruits of the earth have nei-
ther worth nor value, will be revived and encouraged, (faid the
merchant) pleafing illufions! flattering projects! what is now be-
come of you! The farmer, the dealer, all ranks and claffes in the
colony, undergo, in the moft profound peace, misfortunes and ca-
lamities which they never felt during a long and bloody war. The
firft ftroke by which the colony was afflicted, was the information
it received of the ceflion made of it by his majefty to Spain: no-
body, doubtlefs, will be furprifed at the profound melancholy
which this news excited in all hearts. The French love their
monarch above all things, and a happy prejudice makes all men
naturally incline to the government under which they are born.
Let us caft a veil over this event, the pen drops from the hand of a
Frenchman when he attempts to dive into it: what at prefent
ferioufly occupies and fhould engrofs the whole attention of the
court, is the apprehenfion of that flavery with which a new admi-
niftration threatens the colonies of Louifiana. At one time we be-
hold an exclufive company, which, to the prejudice of the na-
tion, is empowered to carry on all the commerce of the remain-

I 2 ing

a Ne ee et SI TE

[60]

Frangois dans 1’Amerique Septentrionale ; on voit enfuite paroitre
un arret, qui renferme la liberté neceflaire au commerce dans les.
bornes les plus étroites, & defend aux Frangois toute liaifon avec.
leur propre nation, tout y refpire les prohibitions & la géne, par-
tout les commergans de Louifiane trouvent des obftacles 4 fur-
monter, des difficultés 4 vaincre & (s'il eft permis de fe fervir de
cette expreflion) des ennemies de la patrie 4 combattre. En Eu-
rope il s’ecoule quelquefois fix mois avant qu’un armateur parvienne
4 fcavoir s'il obtiendra un paffeport; on n’eft pas mieux recu a St.,.
Domingue lorfqu’il eft queftion d’expeditions pour ce fleuve. Mr.
le Prince Monbazon, général de I’Ifle, commence A les refufer.:
A la Louifiane dans le centre méme de la colonie, ot: le génie le
plus borné voit au premier coup d’oeil combien elle a befoin d’ens
couragement & de protection, on n’eft pas plus favorifé, Le gou-
vernement defendit il y a prés d’un an, l’importation des négres,.
fous pretexte que la concurrence auroit fait tort 4 un négociant des.
colonies Angloifes qui devoit en fournir. Quelle marche effrayante
& deftructive! C’eft priver la colonie de l’aliment le plus propre 4
fon accroiffement ; c’eft couper les racines d’une branche de com-
merce qui vaut feule pour la Louifiane plus que toutes les autres ré-
unies : accrediter des femblables fiftemes, c’eft vouloir convertir en
une vafte forét des établifflemens qui ont couteé des peines & des
foins AVinfini. La vigilance de la cour découvrira facilement la
caufe de ces contrariétés, les efforts de fon zéle la detruiront, &.
fon affection pour la colonie la fauvera du naufrage. La contrain~
te tient tort dans la langueur & dans la faibleffe, Ja liberté au.
contraire anime tout: perfonne n’ignore aujourd’hui que l’odtroi.
des priveléges exclufifs eft 4 proprement parler une efpece de vam-
pire, qui peu a peu mine le peuple, tarit le numeraire, écrafe l’agri-
culture, & le commerce ; voye oppreflive, qui, pour le bonheur de
Vhumanité, eft depuis long-tems bannie des colonies Francoifes..

Pay.

{ 6 J
ing pofleffions of the French in North Americas we next fee an
edict make its appearance, which confines the liberty neceflary for
carrying on commerce within the narroweft bounds, and forbids
the French to have any connexion with their own nation ; prohi-
bitions and conftraint prevail every where ; the merchants of Loui-
fiana every where meet with obftacles to furmount, difficulties to
overcome, and (if it be allowable to make ufe of fuch an expreffion)
enemies of their country to combat. In Europe there fometimes
pafies fix months, before a perfon who fits out a veflel knows
whether he fhall obtain a paffport ; we have no better fuccefs at
St. Domingo when expeditions to that river are in queftion : Prince
Monbazon, general of the ifland, begins to refufe them. In Loui.
fiana, in the very center of the colony, where a perfon of the meaneft
genius fees at the very firft glance how much it ftands in need of
encouragement and patronage, we do not meet with more favour,
The government almoft a twelvemonth ago forbid the importation
of negroes, upon pretext that the competition would have hurt a
merchant belonging to the Englith colonies, who was to furnith
them. How terrible and how deftructive a bargain is this! I ic
depriving the colony of the food beft adapted to its nourifhment ;
it is cutting up by the roots a branch of commerce, which is of
more confequence to Luuifiana than all the reft put together: to
promote fyftems of this (ort is defiring to convert into a vaft forett
eftablifhments which have coft infinite pains and trouble. The
vigilance of the court will eafily difcover the caufe of thefe contra-
rieties; the efforts of its zeal will deftroy it; and its affection for
the colony will fave it from deftruction. Conftraint keeps the af-
fairs of the province ina ftate of languor and weaknefs ; liberty, on
the contrary animates all things: nobody is at prefent ignorant
that the granting of exclufive privileges may be juftly confidered as
a fort of devouring fire, which imperceptibly undermines and con-
fumes the people, drains the currency, and crufhes agriculture and
commerce ; an oppreflive method, which, for the honour of hu-

manity, has been long fince banifhed from the French colonies.
2 To

ee :

[ 62 |

Par quelle fatalité faut-il que la Louifiane feule voie renaitre des
étincelles d’un feu fi devorant. Ce ne font point ici des terreurs pa-
niques, la cour en demeurera convaincue apres qu'elle aura pris lec-
ture de l’arrét dont on a I’honneur de lui prefenter l’extrait. On ne
balance point 4 dire que l’execution du plan qu'il renferme ruineroit
la colonie, en portant a l’agriculture & au commerce les plus dan-
gereufes atteintes. Les colons de la Louifiane defpérent d'avance
du falut de leur patric, fi les privéléges & exemptions, dont elle a
joui jufqu’d prefent, ne font maintenus; fi l’exécution de ce fatal
arrét qui a porté l’allarme & la defolation dans tous les curs n’eft
detournée ; fi une ordonnance rendue au nom de S. M. C. &
publiée 4 la Nouvelle Orleans le 6 Septembre 1766, dont on joint
ici copie, n’eft annullée comme illegale dans tous fes points, &
contraire 4 l’accroifement de l’agriculture & du commerce: fi enfin
l’on permettoit que les douces loix fous lefquelles les colons ont
vécu jufques A aujourd'hui fuffent violées. On ne doit jamais oublier
le difcours fublime qu’un magiftrat illuftre addreffe aux légiflateurs
de la terre (voulez-vous dit-il abroger quelque loy, n’y touchez que
d'une main tremblante. Obfervez tant de folemnités, apportez tant
de précautions que le peuple en conclut naturellement, que les loix
font bien faintes puifqu’il faut tant de formalités pour les abroger.)

Qu’il eft douloureux fans doute pour des Frangois, d’éprouver
toutes Jes rigueurs aux quelles on foumet aujourd’hui leur com-
merce, pendant qu’une nation étrangere, leur ambitieufe rivale,
fait ouvertement & fans trouble le commerce de Ja colonie au pre-
judice de la nation 4 qui elle appartient, quia contribud a fon éta-
blifement & qui en fait les fraix: on necraint point qu’on objecte
que les Francois feuls, ne font point en état de fournir Je conti-
nent de fes befoins; un prét de fept millions que les citoyens de la
Louifiane ont fait au roi, depuis lannée 1758, jufqu’en 1763, fera

un

[ 63 ]

To what fatality is it owing that Louifiana alone fees {parks of this
devouring fire again flruck out? Thefe are not panick terrors, and
this the court will be convinced of, after perufing the fentence, an
extract of which we have here the honour of prefenting them with.
We fhall not {cruple to aftirm, that the carrying the plan which it
contains into execution, would ruin the colony, by giving agricul-
ture and commerce the moft dangerous wounds, The inhabitants
of Louifiana defpair beforehand of the prefervation of their coun.
try, if the privileges and exemptions which it has hitherto en-
joyed are not continued; if the execution of this fatal decree,
which has alarmed all hearts and filled them with confternation, is
not prevented; if an ordonnance publifhed in the name of his
Catholic majefly at New Orleans on the 6th of September 1766,
of which a copy is here fubjoined, is not annulled, as illegal in all
thefe points, and an obftruction to the increafe of agriculture and
commerce; if in fine the mild laws, under which the inhabitants
have lived till now, were fuffered to be violated. We fhould never
forget the fublime difcourfe, which a renowned magi(trate ad-
drefles to the legiflators of the earth; «* Are you, fays he, defirous
of abrogating any law, touch it with a trembling hand, Obferve
fo many formalities, have recourfe to fo many enquiries, that the
people may naturally conclude that the laws are facred, fince fo
many precautions are required in the abrogation of them.”

We will likewife, without hefitation, affirm that it is a high
wortification for Frenchmen to fuffer all the rigours to which their
commerce is fubje@ed, whilft a foreign nation, their ambitious
rival, openly carries on the trade of the colony, to the prejudice
of the nation to which it belongs, which contributed to its efta-
blifhment, and which is at the expence of it: we do not fear that
it will be objected, that the French alone are not able to fupply
the continent with all the commodities which they want; a loan
of feven millions, which the inhabitants of Louifiana have made
the king fince the year 1758 to 1763, will be an eternal monu-

4 ment

[ 4 ]
un monument éterncl de l'étendue du commerce Frangvis & de
l'attachment des colons pour le fervice de leur fouverain.

Que c’eft au moment qu'une nouvelle Mine vient d'étre decou-
verte, que le cotton dont Ja culture affurée par I'experience, pro-
met au cultivateur la recompentfe de fes travaux, & 4 ]'armateur le
chargement de fes navires, que la fabrique de l'indigo peut aller de
pair avec celle de Saint Domingue, que le commerce des pellete-
ries eft pouffé au plus haut point ot il foit encore parvenu, c’eft
dans ces heureufes circonftances que quelques ennemis de la patrie
& créateurs d'un faux fifteme, ont fans doute furpris la religion des
perfonnes en place, pour facrifier les habitans de la Nouvelle Or-
Jeans. Que Ja cour ne renvoye pas Ades tems plus Cloignés le fou-
lagement d’un peuple qui lui eft cher; qu'elle fafle connoitre aux
perfonnes revétues de l’autorité royale, I’épuifement ou feroit re-
duite cette province fi elle n’étoit point deformais affranchie des pro-
hibitions qui la plongeroit dans une ruine irremédiable ; que penfe-
roit-on d’un médecin, qui ayant le remede univerfel attendroit une
pefte pour s’en fervir. Que c’eft a la faveur de la navigation des
ifles du vent, & fous le vent, que les habitans de la Louifiane trou-
vent chaque année le debit de quatre-vingt 4 cent cargaifons de
bois ; qu’on dte cette branche de commerce, on prive.la colonie
d’un revenu annuel de ciny cent mille livres au moins, fomme que
le travail feul des négres & l’application 2" mattre produit fans
autre mife dehors. Quw’il vaudroit mieux, fuivant un fameux au-
teur, perdre dans un grand royaume cent mille hommes par une
faute de politique, que d’en commettre une qui arréte le cours de
agriculture & du commerce: que l’on fcait que ceux qui pré-
fentent des projets pour obtenir des privéléges exclufifs, ne man-
quent jamais de raifons plaufibles pour les faire paroitre cecono-
miques & avantageux, foit au roi, foit au public; mais l’expe-
rience de tous les fiecies & de tous les lieux démontre evidem-
ment

a ae
ment of the extent of the French commerce, and of the attach-
ment of the people of the colonies to their fovereign’s fervice,

It is juft at the inflant that a new mine has been difcovered,
when the culture of cottun, improved by experience, promifes the
planter the recompenfe of his toil, and the perfon who is concerned
in fitting out vefiels, cargoes to load them 5 when the manufacture
of indigo may vie with that of St. Dominico ; when the fur trade
has been carried to the higheft degree of perfection; it is in thefe
happy circumftances that certain enemies to their country, and
broachers of a falfe fyftem, have doubtlefs drawn in perfons in
public office to facrifice the inhabitants of New Orleans. The
court fhould not longer defer the relief of a people which is dear
to it; it fhould make known to thofe invefted with royal autho-
rity the exhaufted ftate to which this province would be reduced,
if it was not for the time to come freed from the prohibitions, which
would plunge it into irremediable ruin. What fhould we think
of a phyfician, who being poffeffed of the panacea, or univerfal
remedy, fhould wait for a plague in order to apply it ? It is by the
trade to the Leeward Iflands that the inhabitants of Louifiana find
means every year to difpofe of fourfcore or a hundred loads of
wood ; if this branch of trade was to be taken away, the colony
would be deprived of an annual income of 300,000 livres at leaft,
a fum which the work of the negroes and the application of the
mafter produces alone, without any foreign afliftance. According
to the obfervation of a celebrated author, it would be better to lofe
a hundred thoufand men ina great kingdom by an error in po-
liticks, than to be guilty of one which fhould ftop the progrefs of
agriculture and commerce. It is well known that thofe who pre-
fent plans to obtain exclufive privileges, are never without plau-
fible reafons to make them appear faving and advantageous, as well
to the king as the public; but the experience of all ages and all
countrics evidently demonftrates, that thofe who feek exclufions,

K have

|; 66
ment que ceux qui (ollicitent des exclufions ont uniquement en
vue leur intérét particulier ; qu’ils font moins zelés que les autres
pour le bien de I’état & moins bons patriotes. Que l’execution de
V'arrét pour le commerce de la Louifiane réduiroit les habitans a
Vaffligeante alternative, ou de perdre leurs recoltes, faute de na-
vires pour en faire l’exportation, ou de changer leurs denrées en
fraude avec une nation étrangere, en s’expofant a fubir la rigueur
de Ja loi qui prononce la perte des biens & de la liberté contre les
contrebandiftes ; quelle vie! & quel combat! Qu’il n’eft que trop
vrai comme on l’a déja ovferve, que le bruit feul de la nouvelle
ordoanance a caufé une diminution confiderable, non feulement fur
les objets de luxe, mais auffi fur les biens fonds. Une maifon qui
veloit ci-devant vingt mille livres auroit de Ja peine aujourd'hui
d’er produire cing; on dira peut-étre que la rareté de l’argent con-
tribue auffi 4 cette diminution, mais combien fera plus grande la
difette des efpéces, lorfque la colonie fe verra livrée, foit 4 une com-
pagnic exclufive, foit a l’ambition de cing 4 fix particuliers qui ne
forment qu'une mfle? Ce fera alors un membre qui s’accroitra
monftrueufement aux depens de la fubftance des autres qui devien-
dront fecs, & paralitiques; le corps fe verra par 14 menacé d’une
deftruétion totale : que ce.n’a été qu’en favorifant ouvertement l’in-
tiodudtion des négres que l'on étoit parvenu 4 mettre cette colonie
dans l’embonpoint, ou l’on I’a vueen 1759. Qu’on dira peut-étre,
pour diffiper les allarmes, que lor & l’argent qui s’eft repandu fur
la piace, au moyen d’une nouvelle adminiftration, pourra dédom-
mager ds pertes de V'agriculture, & du commerce, mais qu’d juger
de l’avenir par l’experience du pafle & du préfent, on trouvera cette,
rerfource bien foible, perfonne n’ignorant d’ailleurs que, parmi les
différenssréfors que la terre renferine dans fon fein, l’or & Vargent ns
font ni les premieres richeffes, niles plus defirables, ces matieres
out réduit dans un état deplorable leurs poffeffeurs naturels & les.
maitres de ces efclaves ne font pas devenus plus puiffants. Il fem-
ble qne dés le moment ils ayent perdu tout efprit d’induftrie, tout.
aptitude.
4.

se &

[ 67 ]
have their private intereft folely in view ; that they have lefs zeal
than others for the profperity of the ftate, and have lefs of the
{pirit of patriotifm. The execution of the decree with regard to
the commerce of Louifiana, would reduce the inhabitants to the
fad alternative of either lofing their harvefts for want of vefle!s to
export them, or to exchange their commodities in a fraudulent
manner with a foreign nation, expofing themfelves to underge the
rigour of the law, which ordains that thofe who carry on a con-
traband trade fhall lofe both their lives and liberties. What a life
is this! what a ftruggle! It is but too true, as has been alceady
obferved, that the report of the new ordinance alone has caufed a
confiderable diminution, not only in the articles of luxury, but
likewife in landed eftates. A houfe which was heretofore worth
twenty thoufand livres would hardly fell for five thoufand: fome
will, perhaps, affert that the fcarcity of money contributes like-
wife to this diminution; but how much greater will be the fcarcity
of fpecie, when the colony fhall either be delivered up to an cx-
clufive company, or to the ambition of five or fix individuals, who
form but one body? It will refemble a member grown to a mon-
ftreus bulk at the expence of the fubftance of the reft, which
would become withered and paralytic; the body would thereby
find itfelf threatened with a total deftruction: it was only by openly
favouring the introduction of negroes that this colony was raifed to
the flourifhing ftate which it appeared to have attained in 1759.
Perhaps it will be faid, to difpel thefe alarms, that the gold and
filver which has been made to abound in the place by a new ad-
miniftration, may indemnify for the loffes of agriculture and com-
merce; but to judge of the future by the experience of the paft
and the prefent, that refource will be found to be very weak, as
nobody can be ignorant, that amongft the various treafures which
the earth contains in its bofom, gold and filver are neither the
chief riches nor the moft defirable ; thefe metals have reduced
their natural poffeffors to a deplorable ftate, and the mafters of
thofe flaves are not thereby become more powerful. They appear
from that moment to have loft all fpirit and induftry, all difpofition
K 2 to

Aa RE

aah

a inn Age ae set tn em ie

[, 68: )

aptitude au travail, comme un laboureur qui trouveroit un tréfor
au milieu de fon champ abandoneroit pour toujours la charrue ;
que d’ailleurs combien d’actes de rigueur n'ont pas été exercées
contre des paifibles citoyens par un etranger, qui, quoique revétu
d’un caratére refpectable, n’a fatisfait A aucuns des formalités ni
a aucuns des devoirs prefcrits par l’acte de ceflion, leur objet de
tranquilité, On citera un ancien capitaine qui a été detenu, par
fes ordres, aux arréts & fon navire dans le port pendant l’efpace de
huit 4 dix mois, pour n’avoir pas feu lire dans les decrets de lz,
providence que le bateau Uns lequel il avoit envoyé des paqueis
qu’on lui avoit confié, feroit naufrage. Une femblable tyrannie a
été exercée par le dépofitaire de cette méme autorité informe & il-
legale, envers deux capitaines de la Martinique qui n‘avoient
commis d’autre crime, que celui de n’avoir pas deviné que le con-
feil de Ja Louifiane avoit rendu un arrét qui interdifoit l’entrée des
négres créolifes des Ifles du Vent & fous le Vent: quel traitement
un ancien citoyen n’a-t-il pas efluyé a l’occafion d’un paquet qui
avoit été remis au capitaine de fon navire, & qui ayant été con-
trarié par les vents, n’a pi Je remettre 4 Ja Havanne? Comment
décrira-t-on l’innumanité avec laquelle ont été ménés les Acca-
diens ? Ce peuple, le jouet des evénemens, s’eft déterminé, par un
efprit patriotique, d’abandonner tout ce qu’il pouvoit pofleder fur
les terres Angloifes pour venir vivre fous les heureufes loix de leur
ancien maitre: ils font arrivés a grand fraix dans cette colonie ; 3
peine font-ils parvenus a deffricher emplacement neceflaire 4 une
pauvre chaumiere que, fur quelques reprefentations qu’ils ont voulu:
faire 4 M. Ulloa, il les a menacé de les chaffer de la colonie & de
les faire vendre comme des efclaves pour payer les rations que le
roi leur avoit donnée, en enjoignant aux Allem nds de leur refufer
retraite, On laiffe a decider, fi cette conduite ne tient point de la
barbarie; mais on croit pouvoir conclure, fans rien exagérer, qu’elle
eft diametralement oppofce au fifteme politique qui veut que l'on,

favarife

[ 69 }
to work ; like a labourer who fhould find a treafure in the midit
of his field, and thereupon forfake his plough for ever. Befides,
how many acts of feverity have been exercifed again{t peaceable
citizens by a ftranger ; who, though invefted with a refpectable
character, has obferved none of the formalities, nor performed any
of the duties prefcribed by the act of ceffion, their object of tran-
quility. We fhall mention an old captain of a fhip who was con-
fined by his orders, and his veffel detained in the port during eight
or ten months, for not having been able to read in the decrees of
providence, that the veflel in which he had difpatched certain
packets entrufted to his care would be catft away. A fimilar ty-
ranny was exercifed by the perfon invefted with this illegal and’

unjult authority, againft two captains ‘-clonging to Martinico, who
had becn guilty of no other crime but that of not having guefied
that the council of Louifiana had iTued an edi@, which forbid the
entrance of the negress naturalized amongft the Creolians into the
Leeward Iflands. What ill ufage hasan old citizen fuffered upon

account of a pacquet, which had been put into the hands of the
captain of one of his fhips, who, having met with contrary winds,
was unable to deliver it at the Havannah ? How thall we defcribe:
the barbarity with which the people of Accadia were treated ? This
people, the fport of fortune, were determined, by a patriotic {pirit,
to forfake all they might be poffeffed of upon the Englith territo-
ries, in order to go to live under the happy laws of their ancient
mafter: they arrived in this colony at a great expence, and fcarce
had they cleared outa place fufficient for a poor thatched hut to
ftand upon, when in confequence of fome reprefentations, which:
they happened to mzke to Mr. Ulloa, he threatened to drive them.
out of the colony, and have them fold for flaves, to pay the ra-
tions which the king had given them, at the fame time dire@ting
the Germans to refufe them a retreat. The court is left to deter-
mine whether this condu@ does not border upon barbarifim ;. but
we think we may take upon us to conclude that it is diametrically:
e@ppofite to the political fyftem, which dire¢ts us to promote every.

branch

Autti

RRS ae a A a EE

Lise
favorite toutes les branches de populationes. Ceux qui fe plaignent,
& quel homme affez anéanti fous le joug peut effuyer fans murmure
de telles inhumanités? Oui, on l’ofe dire, ceux qui fe plaignent
font menacés d’étre emprifonnés, exilés a la Balifes, & envoyés aux
mines, Que fi M. Ulloa a été revétu de quelque autorité, fon
prince ne lui a jamais ordonné de la rendre tirannique, ni de l'ex-
ercer avant d’avoir fait connoitre fes titres & fes pouvoirs. De
teiles vexations ne font pas l’ouvrage des cceurs des rois, elles s’ac-
cordent peu avec I’humanité qui fait leur cara&tére & qui dirige
leurs actions: qu’on ne finiroit point fi on entreprenoit le detail de
toutes les humiliations que les Frangois de la Nouvelle Orleans ont
éprouvé. Il eft a defirer, pour l’honneur de la nation, que ce qui
a pi en tranfpirer puiffe étre effacé par les precieux effets de la pro-
tection du confeil fupérieur que l’on reclame aujourd’hui, & que
pour mettre le comble a tant de tribulations on leur predit, qu’avec
Je tems, on reduira les colons de la Louifiane a la fimple nourriture
de la tortilla, tandis que l’aliment le plus fobre ne fera jamais leur
peine. Que cependant le confervation de leurs jours, leurs obliga-
tions envers leurs créanciers, leur honneur émanant du patriotifme
& de leur devoir, leurs fortunes enfin fe trouvant attaquées par
le dit décret, les portent a offrir leurs biens & leur fang pour con-
ferver A jamais le doux & inviolable titre de citoyen Frangois. Que
tout cet expofé les conduit naturellement 4 des conclufions aux-
quelles le zéle de la cour pour le bien public, fa fermeté pour le
maintien des loix dont S. M. T. C. I’a établie depofitaire, les affure
qu'elle fera l’accueil Je plus favorable. Mais avant d’entrer dans
ces conclufions ils doivent rendre homage aux bontés de M. Aubry.
Les veeux du public fe font toujours accordés ayec le choix du prince
a lui donner le commandement en chef de Ja Louifiane, fes vertus lui
ont fait décerner le titre d’honnéte homme & de gouverneur equi-
table: il n’a jamais ufé de fes pouvoirs que pour faire le bien, &
tout,

Cm

branch of population. “Thofe who complain; (and'who is there
fo far broke to the yoke as to bear without murmuring fuch horrid
inhumanities ?) yes, we dare to declare it, thofe who complain are
threatened with imprifonment, banifhed to Balifes, and fent to the
mines. Now, though Mr. Ulloa might have been invefted with
fome authority, his prince never commanded him to exert it in a
tyrannical manner, nor to exercife it before he had made known
his titles and his powers. Such oppreflions are not dictated by the
hearts of kings; they agree but ill with that humanity which con-
{titutes their character and direéts their actions. We thould hardly
ever make an end,. were we to enter into a detail of all the mor-
tifications which the French of New Orleans have undergone. It
were to be withed for the honour of the nation, that as many of

them as have tranfpired might. be obliterated by the precious effects.

of the protection of the fuperior court, which is now applied for,
and that to render fo much tribulation complete, it fhould be
fortold to them, that in time the inhabitants of Louifiana will be

reduced to live upon turtle alone, whilft the moft frugal fort of

food will now be a.punifhment.to them. In the mean time, the
prefervation of their lives, their obligations to their creditors, their
honour, which is the refult of patriotifm and of their duty, in fine,
their very fortune being attacked by the faid decree, reduce them

to offer their. poffefions and their blood to preferve for ever the:
clear and inviolable title of Frenchmen. All that has:hitherto been.

faid leads them: naturally to make demands: or requefts to which

the zeal for thie public good, its fteddinefs:in fupporting the laws.
which bis moft chriftian majefty has made them the depolitories of,,

affures them that it will give the moft favourable reception. But
before they: proceed to thefe demands, they muft pay their homage
to the goodnefs of Monf. Aubry. The withes of the. public have al-
ways correfponded with the choice of the-prince in affigning him the

chief command over the province of Louifiana; his virtues have caufed:
the titles of honeft man and equitable: governor to be adjudged:
him; he never made ufe of his power. but.to do good,.and all:

uajutt

an
tout ce qui a été injufte lui a toujours paru impoffible. Qu’ils ne
craignent point qu’on ait a leur reprocher que la reconnoiffance
Jes ait fait exagérer en quelques chofes: negliger des louanges me-
ritees, c’eft voler une dette legitime, & concluent enfin en fuppli-
ant le cour,

1. D’obtenir que les privéléges & exemptions dont la colonie a
joui, depuis la retroceffion que la compagnie en fita S. M. T. C.
foient maintenus fans qu’aucune innovation puiffe en arréter le cours,
& troubler la fureté des citoyens.

2. Quiil foit accordé des pafleports, congés & permiflions ema-
nant de meffieurs le gouverneur & commiffaire de $. M. T. C. aux
capitaines de navires qui s‘expedieront de cette colonie pour tel port
de France & de l’Amerique que ce puiffe étre.

3+ Que tout batiment expédié de tel port de France & de l’Ame-
rique que ce puiffe étre, aura l’entrée libre du fleuve; foit qu'il
vienne directement pour cette colonie, ou qu'il y aborde de Re-
lache, afin que cela s’eft toujours pratiqué.

4. Que la liberté du commerce avec toutes les nations qui font
fous la domination de S. M. T. C. foit accordé a tous les citoyens,
en conformité des ordres du roi a feu M. D’Abbadie, enrégiftrés au
greffe de cette ville, & conformément auffi 4 la lettre de monfeig-
neur le duc de Choifeuil au méme M. D’Abbadie, en datte du
g Fevrier 1766.

5. Que M. Ulloa foit declaré infra@aire & ufurpateur, en plu-
ficurs points, de l’autorite dévolue au gouvernement & au confeil,
puifque toutes les loix, ordonnances & coutumes, veulent que
cette autorité ne foit exercée par aucun officier, qu’aprés qu'il
aura rempli toutes les formalités prefcrites, & c’eft A quoi M.

Ulloa

[ 73 ]
unjuft deeds have to him ever appeared impoffible. They are not
afraid of being reproached that gratitude has made them exaggerate
in any particular: to neglect deferved praifes is to keep back a
lawful debt, and they conclude, in fine, by intreating the court,

1. To obtain that the privileges and exemptions, which the
colony has enjoyed fince the ceflion, which the company madc to
his moft chriftian majefty, thould be fupported without any 1...
vations being fuffered to interrupt their courfe and difturb the fe~
curity and quiet enjoyment of the citizens.

2. That paffports and permiffions fhould be granted from the
governors and commiffioners of his moft chriftian majetty, to fuch
captains of veffels as fhall fet fail from this colony to any ports of
France or America whatever.

3. That any thip which fails from any pert of France or Ame-
rica whatever, fhall have free entrance into the river, whether it
fail diretly for the colony, or only put into it occafionally, as has
been always obferved. .

4. That the freedom of trade with the feveral nations under the
government of his moft chriftian majefty, fhall be granted to all
the citizens, in conformity to the king’s orders to the late Mr.
D’Abbadie, regiftered at the fecretary’s office of this city, and
likewife in conformity to the letter of his grace the duke de Choi-
feuil, addrefled to the fame Mr. D’Abbadie, and dated the gth of
February 1766.

g. That Mr. Ulloa fhall be declared to have, in many points,
infringed and ufurped the authority which had devolved to the
government and the council, becaufe all the laws, ordonances,
and cuftoms, direct, that the faid authority fhall not be exercifed
by any officer, till he fhall have performed all the formalities pre-

L, {crited,

[ 74 ]
Ulloa n’a point fatisfait; pourquoi, il doit &tre declaré infra&taire
& ufurpateur, 1. Pour avoir fait arborer pavillon Efpagnol en plu-
ficurs endroits de la colonie, fans avoir préalablement montré &
fait enrégiftrer au confeil, les titres & pouvoirs dont il a pa étre
munis & que les citoyens affemblés ayent pi en étre informés.
2. Pour avoir, de fon chef & autorité privée, exigé que des capi~
taines de navires fuffent détenus & leurs batimens dans le port fans
aucun fondement & pour avoir faire mettre aux arréts 4 bord d’une
fregate Efpagnole des citoyens Francois. 3. Pour avoir fait tenir
des confeils, dans la maifon du fieur Detrehan, par des officiers
Efpagnols, dans lefquels il a été rendu des ariéts concernant les ci-
toy os de la Louifiane; & demandent, qu’en vertu de tous ces.
griefs & tant d’autres de notoriété publique & auffi pour la tran-
quilité de tous les citoyens qui reclament la protection du confeil,
ils foient affranchis deformais de la crainte d’une autorité tiranique
& des conditions portées par le dit décret, au moyen de I’éloigne-
ment de M. Ulloa, auquel il doit étre enjoint de s’embarquer, dans-
Te premier batiment qui partira, pour fe rendre ou bon lui femble-
ra, hors de la dependance de cette province.

6. Qu’il foit ordonné a tous les officiers Efpagnols, qui font dans-
cette ville ou repandus dans les poftes dépendans de la colonie, d’en.
fortir pour fe rendre également 1a ou ils jugeront 4 propos, hors de
Ja dependence de la dite province, & qu’enfin il plaife a la cour, or-
donner que larrét A intervenir fera ld, publié & affiché dans tous:
les lieux & endroits accoutumés de cette ville & copies collationées:
envoy¢es dans tous les poftes de la dite colonie.. Les dites repré-
fentations font fignées par cing cent trente fix perfonnes,. habitans,.
négotians, marchands, & notables. Vii aufli la copie du décret pub=
lié par ordre de S. M. C. non fignée, ni dattée, autre copie d’une
ordonnance

{ 75 ]

{cribed 5 and this condition Mr. Ulloa has not complied with.
¥ie fhould therefore be declared to have infringed and ufurped the
authority of the government; 1. For having caufed Spanith co-
lours to be fet up in feveral parts of the colony, without having
previoufly caufed to be regiftered in the council books, the titles and
powers which he might have received, and of which the affembly
of the citizens might have been informed. 2. For having of his
own accord, and by his own private authority, infifled upon cap-
tains of veflels being detained with their fhips in the port without
any caufe, and for having ordered fubjects of France to be canfined
aboard a Spanith frigate. 3. For having caufed councils to be held
in the houfe of Mr. Detrehan by Spanith officers, in which decrees
were iffued concerning the inhabitants of Louifiana. And they
requeft, that on account of thefe grievances, and many others
publickly known, and likewife for the tranquility of all the
citizens who apply for the patronage of the council, they fhall for
the time to come be freed from the fear of a tyrannical authority,

and exempted from obferving the conditions enjoined by the faid
decree, by means of the difmiffion of Mr, Ulloa, who thould be
ordered to embark aboard the firft veffel which fhall fet fail, in
order to depart, whenever he thinks proper, out of the countries
depending upon this province.

6. That orders fhall be given to all the Spanifh officers who are
in this city, or fcattered up and down at the pofts depending upon -
the colony, to quit them, in order to repair hkewife, whenever
they fhall think proper, out of the dependencies of the province
and, finally, that the court would be pleafed to order that the
decree fhall be read, publifhed, and fet up, in all the ufual places
of this city, and collated copies fent to all the pofts of the faid
colony. The faid reprefentations figned by five hundred and thirty-
fix inhabitants, eminent merchants and dealers. On account, like-
wife, of the copy of the decree, publifhed by orders of his catho-
lic majefty, neither figned nor dated, and of another copy of an

L2 ordonance

Bee

eS ee

[ 76 ]

ordonnance publi¢e en cette ville par ordre de M. Ulloa, du
6 Septembre 1766, V’arrét interlocutoire rendu le jour d’hier fur le
requifitoire de M, le procureur general du roi, portant & ordonnant
avant dire droit, que les dites repréfentations feroient mifes entre
les mains de meffieurs, M'* Uchet, écuyer, fieur de Knion, &
Piot Delaunay, confeillers titulaires, pour étre par eux examinées
& enfuite communiquées meflicurs les gens du roi, pour étre requis

&

ordonné ce qu'il appartiendra de droit; le tout vi, M. le pro-

cureur general du roi s’eft levé & remis, a dit,

a¢

«« Meffieurs,
\

« Le premier point le plus intéreffant 4 examiner, eft la de-
marche de tous les habitans & negocians unis, qui dans leur
fervitude préparée, & leurs malheurs démontrés, s’addreffent d
votre tribunal & vous demandent juftice des infractions faites 4
l’acte folemnel de ceffion de cette colonie: votre tribunal eft-il
compétant? Sont-ils fondés? Je vais prouver . ctendue de I’au-
torité royale déférce au confeil fupérieur. Les parlemens & les
confeils fuperieurs font les dépofitaires des loix a l’abri defquels
les peuples vivent heureux; font protecteurs nés par état des
vertueux citoyens, & font établis pour faire exécuter les ordon-
nances, édits, & déclarations, des rois aprés leur enrégiftrement :
telle a été la volonté de Louis le bien-aimé, notre feigneur roi,
& au nom duquel tous vos arréts jufqu’a ce jour, ont été rendus
& mis 4 exécution. L’acte de ceffion, feul titre dont le commif-
faire de S. M. C. puiffe fe prevaloir pour réclamer autorité &
propriété fut addreflé a défunt M. D’Abbadie, avec ordre de le
faire enrégiftrer au confeil fupérieur de la colonie, afin que les
différens états de la dite colonie foient informés de fon contenu &
quils puiffent y avoir recours au befoin, la préfente n’étant 4 au-

* tre6

( 77 J

ordonance publithed in this city, by order of Mr, Ulloa, of the
6th of September 1766, the interlocutory decree iffued yefterday,
upon the requilition of the king’s attorney-general, orders and di-
rects, that before the decifion of the court, the faid reprefentations
fhall be put into the ha ds of Meflrs, Attre Uchet, efquire, lord
of Knion, and Piot Desaunay, titular counfellors, to be by them
examined, and afterwards communicated to the king’s council ;
that what the law directs may be enacted concerning them. All
thefe particulars being taken into confideration, the king’s attorney-
general {tood up and faid,

«¢ Gentlemen,

— « The firft and moft interefting point to be examined is the ftep
«© taken by all the inhabitants and merchants in concert, who,
«« being threatened with flavery, and labouring under grievances
which have been enumerated, addrefs your tribunal, and re-
quire juftice for the violations of the folemn aét of the ceflion of
that colony. Is your’s a competent tribunal? Are thefe com-
plaints juft ? I fhall now fhew the extent of the royal authority
vefted in the fuperior council. The parliaments and fuperior
council are the depofitaries of the laws, under the protection of
which the people live happily ; they are, by their rank and
dignity the patrons of virtuous citizens, and they are eftablithed
for the purpofe of executing the ordonances, edicts, and decla-
rations of kings after they are regiftered. Such was the will
and pleafure of Lewis the well-beloved, our fovereign lord, in

‘

”~

¢

¢

a

€

~

n

an

na

«* whofe name all your decrees to the prefent day have been iffued ,

‘© out and carried into execution. The ad of ceffion, the only
«© title of which his catholic majefty’s commiffary can avail him-
felf, to make his demands auéforitale SG proprietate, was ad~-
drefled to the late Mr. D’Abbadie, with orders to caufe it to be
regiftered in the fuperior council of the colony, to the end that
the different claffes of the faid colony may be informed of its
contents, and may be enabled to have secourfe to it upon occafion ;

“ this

“~

€

n

‘

un“

a

“-

[ 7% |
“tres fins. La lettre de M, Ulloa dattée de fa Havanne du ro
“© Juillet 1765, qui caractérife fes defirs de rendre A meffieurs les
‘* habitans tous les fervices qu’ils pourront fouhaiter, vous fit ad-
«« drefiée, meflieurs, avec priere de faire participer aux dits habitans
«* qu’en cela il ne feroit que remplir fon devoir & flater fon in«
clination, La dite lettre fit, par votre arrét de delibérd, publi¢e,
« affichée, & enregiftrée comme un garant que les habitans auroient
*« de leur bonheur & de leur tranquilité. Une autre lettce du mois
d’ O&obre dernier écrite A M. Aubry, conftate que la juftice fe
** rende toujours dans la coloni¢e au nom du roi Louis le bien-aimé.
Il réfulte du puiffant point d’appui de l’acte folemnel de ceflion
‘* & des autres accefloires, que meflieurs les habitans & negociang
«« font bien fondes a vous prefenter leurs trés humbles repréfenta-
‘* tions, & vous, meflicurs, trés autorifés 4 prononcer. Exami-
«* nons actuellement avec fcrupule l’aéte de ceffion, & la lettre de
«« M. Ulloa ecrite au confeil fupérieur. Je crois devoir rapporter
«© mot a mot I’extrait de Ja lettre du roi, qui fut publi¢e, affichée,
“* & enregiftrés.

x-~
ial

a gs ts we aA nee
nt ee ae ete te _ - _

ea ee ee Ree
~ opiate ee ee ae ee ee es te ee =

“« Ce méme atte folemnel de ceffion qui donne titre de propriété
aS. M. C. ftatue pour les colons des priviléges anciens & con-
‘** nus, & la parole royale de notre feigneur roi, en promet & en
‘* fait efpérer de nouveaux dont les malheurs de la guerre l’ont privé
“« de faire jouir fes fujets, les priviléges anciens étant fuprimés par l’au-
** torité du commiffaire de $. M. C. la propriété devient caduque ;
‘* ’acte de cefflion par pure, fimple & bonne amitié s’eft fait avec fes
‘* referves quiconfirment les priviléges & libertés, & promet aux ha-
«* bitans une vie tranquile, a l’abri de leurs loix canoniques & civiles.
«« Lapropriétérefultant d’une ceffion par don gratuit, ne peut fe repéter
* & tre obtenu qu’en fatisfaifant pendant toute la propriété aux referves
7 ** contenues

[ 79 J

this inftrument being calculated for no other purpofe. The
letter of Mr, Ulloa, dated from the Havannah July 10, 1765,
which intimates his difpofition to do the inhabitants all the fer-
vices they can defire, was addrefled to you, gentlemen, with a
requeft to intimate to the faid inhabitants, that therein he would
only difcharge his duty and gratify his own inclinations. The
faid letter was, by your decree, publifhed, fet up, and regiftered,
as a pledge to the inhabitants of happinefs and tranquility,
Another letter, of the month of October laft, written toMr, Aubry,
certifies that juftice fhould be always adminifterea in the co-
lony in the name of Louis the well-beloved. It refults from
the folid bafis of the folemn act of ceffion and other acceflories,
that the inhabitants and merchants have good reafon to prefent
you with their moft humble remonftrances ; and you, gentle.
men, fully authorized to pronounce thereupon. Let us now
accurately examine the act of ceffion and the letter written by
Mr. Ulloa to the fuperior council. I think it likewife incum-
bent on me to cite, word for word, the extract of the king’s
letter, which was publifhed, fet up, and regiftered,

«¢ This very folemn act of ceflion, which gives the title of pro.
perty to his catholic majefty, eftablifhes for the inhabitants of
the colony ancient and known privileges, and the royal word of
ou: fovercign lord the king promifes, and gives us ground to
hope for, others, which the calamities of war have prevented
him from making his fubjects enjoy. The antient privileges
having been fuppreffed by the authority of his catholic majefty’s
commiffioner, property becomes precarious ; the act of ceflion,
through pure good will and friendfhip, was made with thefe
referves,, which confirm their liberties and privileges, and pro-
mifes the inhabitants a life of tranquility, under the protection

and fhelter of their canon and civil laws. The property which

refults from a ceffion by free gift cannot be claimed and ob-
tained, except by complying with the referves contained in the
; “ faid

ee

ee

#6

ay

¢

ss

‘

~

&

[ 80 ]
contenues dans le dit acte de ceflion. Notre fzigneur roi, eipere
& fe promet en confequence de l’amitie & de l’affection de
S. M. C. qu'elle voudra bien donner des ordres 4 fon gouverneur
& & tous autres officiers employes a fon fervice dans cette colonie
pour l'avantage & la tranquilité des habitans de cette méme co-
lonic, & quiils foient jugés & leurs biens régis fuivant les loix,
formes & ufages de la colonie. Les titres de M. Ulloa peuvent
ils faire prevaloir des ordonnances & des ordres infractaires au
refpect di A l’aéte folemnel de ceflions Les priviléges anciens,
lu tranquilité des citoyens Francois, les loix, formes & ufages
de la colonie font facrés par une promciie royale, par un enré-
giftrement ordonné au confeil fupérieur, & par une publication
note've & prefcrite. Le recours a l'acte de ceffion par les dif-
férens ¢tats de la colonie, eft Vunique fin de la lettre de notre
feigneur roi; rien de mieux fonde & de plus legal que le droit
de repréfentations, acquis par autorité royale aux habitans &
citoyens de la colonie, |

«' Paflons a Vexamen de la lettre de M. Ulloa, écrite au confeil
iupérieur de Ja Nouvelle Orleans en datte du 10 Juillet 1765.
Je rapporterai mot a mot larticle concernant M. le confeil fu-
perieur & mefliewrs les habitans.

“| Ye me flate davance qu'elle pourra me proportionner des occafions
favorable: pour vous témorgner les defirs qu'ils maffiftent de pouvoir
vous rendre tous les fervices, que vous & meffeurs les habitans
pourront fouhaiter, de quoi je vous prie de les affurer de ma part, &
‘ cwen cela ne ferat que remplir mes Cours S flater mon inclination.

« M. Ulloa a prouvé par 1a les ordres qu'il avoit regu de 8. M. C.
conformes a l'acte folemnel de cetiion, & il annong¢cit un ienti-

6 ment

t

e¢

€6

ge

Eo)

faid act of ceflion, during the time of poflefling that property.
Our fovereign lord the king hopes, and promifes himfelf, that
in cofequence of the friendthip and affeXion thewn by his
catholic majefty, that he will be pleafed to give orders to his
governor, and to all other officers employed in his fervice in that
colony, for the advantage and tranquility of the inhabitants of
the colony, and that they fhould be ruled and their fortunes
and eftates managed according to the laws, forms, and cuftoms
of the colony. Can Mr, Ulloa’s titles give weight to ordinances
and orders which violate the refpec&t due to the folemn a& of
ceffion? ‘The antient privileges, the tranquility of the fubjects
of France, the laws, forms, and cuftoms of the colony, are
rendered facred by a royal promife, by a regiftering ordered by
the fuperior council, and by a publication univerfally known,
The recourfe had to the act of ceflion by the different claffes of
the colony: is the fole aim of the letter of our fovereign lord the
king; nothing can be better grounded or more legal tnan the
right of remonftrating, which the inhabitants and citizens of
the colony have acquired by royal authority.

‘«* Let us proceed to an examination of the letter of Mr. Ulloa,
written to the fuperior council of New Orleans, dated the 10th
of July, 1765. (I fhall here cite, word for word, the article
relative to the fuperior council and ihe inhabitants. )

«© J flatter myfelf beforeband, that it will be able to procure me
favourable opportunities to teflify to you my defires of baving it in my
power to do you all the fervice that you and the inhabitants can wifh,
which I beg you would affure them of from me, and let them know
that in aéting thus I fhall at once difeharge my duiy and gratify my

inclinations.” :

«© Mr. Ulloa proved thereby the orders which he had received
from his catholic majeity, conformable to the folemn act of
M ‘* ceffion,

[ 82 ]

ment indifpenfable 4 tout gouverneur qui veut bien fervir fon
roi dans les colonies. Specialement fans habitans point de com-
merce, fans commerce peu d’habitans. Le rapport des deux
induftries A la maffe de l’etat, étaye les trdnes. La liberté & la
concurrence font meres nourrices des deux états; l’exclufion, le
tiran & le maratre. Sans liberté peu de vertus. Du defpotifme
nait la pufillanimité & l’abime des vices. L’homme n’eft re-
connu pécher vis-a-vis de Dieu, que parce qu'il conferve le
libre arbitre, ob eft la liberté des habitans & des négocians ? Les
marques de protection & de bienveillance font converties en
defpotifme : une feule autorité veut tout anéantir. Tous les
états fans diftinétion ne doivent plus, fans courir rifque d’éire
taxés de crime, que trembler, étre affervis & ramper: le con{eil
fupérieur, boulevard de la tranquilité des citoyens vertueux, ne
s'eft foutenu que par la probité, le defintéreflement des ma-
giftrats, & la confiance réunie des citoyens en eux. Sans prife
de poffetiion, fans l’enrégiftrement indifpenfable au confeil fupé-
rieur des titres & patentes fuivant les loix, formes, & ufages de
Ja colonie & de la préfentation de l’acte de ceflion, M. Ulloa a
fait juger par un prefident, trois confeillers, & un greftier, nom-
més d’office des faits de la competence du confeil fupérieur &
concernant des citoyens F'rangois. Vingt fois les mecontente-
mens, & defagremens fembloicnt vous forcer a vous demettre de
vos places, mais vous avez toujours regardé annexé a votre état
de confeiller du roi trés-chreticn, d’adoucir & de calmer les
murmures des citoyens vex¢s. L’amour de la patrie, & la
juftice due a tout citoyen qui la reclame ont nourri votre zéle.
Elle s’eft rendue avec la méme exactitude, vous n’avez jamais
voulu faire vos répréfentations aux infractions faites a l'acte de
ceffion, yous avez toujours craint d’autorifer une mafie de colo-

I “ nie

[ 83 ]

ceffion, and he difcovered a fentiment indifpenfable in every
governor who is defirous of terving his king in the colonies:
efpecially as without inhabitants there can be no commerce, and
without commerce few inhabitants. The proportion of induftry
to the bulk of the ftate fupports and props the throne. Liberty
and emulation are the nurfing mothers of the ftate ; monopoly
or exclufion, the tyrant and the ftep-mother. Without liberty
there are but few virtues. From defpotifm f{prings pufillanimity
and the abyfs of vices. Man is confidered as finning before God
only becaufe he retains his free-will, upon which depends the
liberty of inhabitants and merchants. Inftances of proteétion
and benevolence are converted into defpotifm : a fir zle authority
would abforb and annihilate every thing. All ranks, without
diftinétion, can no longer, without running the rifk of being
taxed with guilt, do any thing elfe but tremble, bow their necks
to the yoke, and lick the duft. The fuperior council, bulwark
of the tranquility of virtuous citizens, has fupported itlelf only
by the probity, the difintereftednefs of merchants, and confidence
of the united citizens in that tribunal. Without taking poffe(
fion, without regiftering, as was neceffary, in the fuperior coun.
cil, titles and patents according to the laws, forms, and cuftoms
of the colony, and to the requifition of the act of ceffion, Mr,
Ulloa has caufed a prefident, three counfellors, and a {ecretary,
nominated for the purpofe, to take cognizance of fa&s which
fhould properly be determined by the fuperior council, and in
which French citizens were concerned. Often did difcontents
and difgufts feem to force you to refign your places, but you
have always confidered it as a duty of your itation of counfellors
to the moft chriftian king, to alleviate and calm the murmurs
of the oppreffed citizens. The love of your country, and the
juftice due to every citizen who applies for it, have nourithed
your zeal. It has been always rendered with the fame exact-
nefs; you never thought proper to make your reprefentations
upon the act of ceffion 5 you declined to autho rife a numerous

M 2 dif-

C & J
nie mécontante & ménacce des plus grands malheurs, vous avez
preféré la tranquilité publique: mais la maffe des habitans &
negocians vous demandent juttice.

‘¢ Paffons i l’examen exact & fcrupuleux des griefs, plaintes, &
imputations contenues dans les repréfentations des habitans &
des negocians. Quels triftes & notoires tableaux vous expofent
les dites repréfentations! les fleaux de la derniere guerre, une
iufpenfion jufqu’a ce jour de payment de fept millions de papier
du roi mis fur la place pour les befoins du fervice & regus avec
confiance par les negocians & habitans avoient reculé l’aifance &
les facilités de la circulation; mais l’a@tivité & linduftrie du cul-
tivateur & negocians Frangois avoient prefque furmonté les
echecs. Les coins les plus reculés des poffeflions fauvages avoi-
ent été découverts, le commerce des pelleteries étoit pouffé 4 fon
plus haut point, la nouvelle culture du cotton adoptée, jointe
aux indigots & tabacs, afluroient des chargemens aux armateurs.
Le commiffaire de S. M. C. avoit annoncé & promis dix ans de
liberté de commerce, ce tems fuffifoit pour tout citoyen Francois
attaché a fon feigneur roi. Les tabacs de cette colonie prohibés
en Efpagne, ot ceux de la Havanne font les feuls permis: les
bois (branche confiderable des revenus des habitans) inutiles a
lEfpagne fournis dans cet objet par fes poffeifions, & enfin
Vindigo inférieur 4 celui de Guatimala qui en fournit plus qu’il
n’en faut aux manufactures d’Efpagne, rendoient ruineux les
retours des denrées des habitans en Efpagne & livroient les dits
habitans a la plus grande mifere. Le commiflaire de S. M. C.
avoit conftaté publiquement l’impoflibilité du commerce de ce
pays avec l’Efpagne: toute protection, faveur, encouragement,
étoient journellement promis 4 I’habitant, le titre de protecteur
“ fut

oe)
difcontented colony, threatened with the moft dreadful cala-
mitics ; you preferred public tranquility: but the bulk of the
inhabitants and merchants apply to you for juftice.

** Let us now proceed to an accurate and {crupulous examina-
tion of the grievances, complaints, and imputations contained
in the reprefentations of the inhabitants and merchants. What
fad and difmal pictures do the faid reprefentations bring before
your eyes! The fcourges of the laft war, a fufpenficn to this
day of the payment of feven millions of paper-money of the
king’s, laid down to fupply the calls of the fervice, and received
with confidence by the merchants and inhabitants, had ob-
ftructed the eafe and facility of the circulation, but the activity
and indnftry of the planter and Frencn merchants had almoi
got the better of all difficulties. ‘The moft remote corners ot
the poffeffions of the favages had been difcovered, the fur trade
had been carried to its higheft perfection, the new culture of
cotton adopted, thefe, joined to the indigoes and tobaccos, fecured
cargoes to thofe who were concerned in fitting out fhips. His
catholic majefty’s commiffioner had promifed a free trade for
ten years, that period being fufficient for every fubje@t of France
attached to his fovereign the king. The tobaccos of this co-
lemy prohibited in Spain, or thofe of the Havannah, are the
anly ones allowed: the woods (a confiderable branch of the
meome of the imhabitants) being ufelefs to Spain, furnifhed in
this article by its plantations, and the indigo being inferior to
that of Guatimala, which fupplies more than requifite to the
manufactures of Spain, thefe circumftances ruined the returns
of the commodities of the inhabitants of this colony to Spain,
and delivered up the faid inhabitants a prey to the moft dread-
ful mifery. His catholic majefty’s commiffioner had publickly
proved the impoffibility of this country’s trading with Spain:
all patronage, favour, encouragement, were every day promifed
the inhabitant; the title of protector was decreed to Mr. Ulloa;

2 “ fincerity

a
“

Se Loa
fut décerné 4 M. Ulloa, la bonne foi & la confiance nouriffoient
l'efpérance & l'activité neceffaire au cultivateur ; mais par quelle
fatalité ruinante & imperceptible a-t-on vu une maifon de vingt
mille livres vendue fix mille livres, & les habitations tout-a-coup
perdre fur leur valeur intrinfique la moiti¢ & les deux tiers? Les
fortunes s’écroulent, & le numeraire eft plus rare que jamais ;
la confiance eft perdue, & le decouragement eft general, tout
retentit du cri lugubre de la mifere, & le precieux titre de ci-
toyen Francois fe voit eclipfer, & le fatal décret congernant le
commerce de la Louiliane porte le dernier coup de maffue a
lanéantiffement total de la colonie. Le pavillon Efpagnol eft
arboré a la Balife & aux Illinois, & autres lieux, aucuns titres,
aucunes patentes, n'ont été préfentées au confeil fupérieur : le
tems fuit, Jes délais fixés pour la liberté de l’émigration fe trou-
veront expires, la force tiranifera, il faudra vivre affervis, chargés
de chaines ou abandonner précipitamment des établiffemens
tranfportés du grand-pere au petit-fils. Tous les habitans &
negocians vous demandent leur feigneur roi, Louis le bien-
aimé! leur fortunes & leur fang font offert pour vivre & mourir
Francois.

** Paflons au réfumé des points de charge, griefs & imputacions,
M. Ulloa a fait juger par des confeillers par lui nommés d’office
des faits de la compétence du confeil fupérieur concernant les
feuls citoyens Francois: les fentences ont été fignifiées & mifes
a l’exécution contre les fieurs Cadis & Leblanc; M. Ulloa a
foutenu les négres mecontens de leurs maitres, M. le commif-
faire de S. M. C. n’a prefenté au confeil fupérieur aucun de fes
titres, pouvoirs, & provifions, n’a point exhibé la copie de l’acte
de ceflion pour en demander aéte, a fans les dites formalités in-
difpenfables arbor pavillon Efpagnol a la Balife, aux Illinois &
autres licux; a, fans autorité legale, puni & chatié & vexé des
cifoyens

Loe
7

ee |
fincerity and confidence nourifhed hope and the activity necef-
fary to the planter: but by what undermining and imperceptible
fatality have we feen a houfe worth twenty thoufand livres fold
for fix thoufand, and habitations all on a fudden lofe one half
and two-thirds of their intrinfic value? Fortunes wafte away,
and fpecie is more fcarce than ever ; confidence is loft, and the
difcouragement becomes general; the plaintive cries of diftrefs
are heard on every fide, the precious name of fubjeét of France
is feen to be eclipfed, and the fatal decree concerning the com-
merce of Louifiana gives the laft fatal ftroke to the colony,
that muft totally annihilate it. The Spanith ftandard is fet up

‘ at Balife and at the Illinois, and other places: no titles, no pa-

tents were prefented to the fuperior council: time flies apace,
the delays fixed for the liberty of emigration will foon expire,
force will tyrannife, we xt live in flavery and loaded with
chains, or precipitately ‘ce eftablifhments delivered down
from the grandfather to tz grandfon. All the inhabitants and
merchants call upon you, their fovereign lord the king, Lewis
the well-beloved ; their treafures and their blood are offered,
they are refolved to live and die French.

«« Let us proceed to refume the points of the charge, grievances
and imputations. Mr. Ulloa has caufed counfellors, named by
himfelf, to take cognizance of facts, which fhould by right be
determined by the fuperior council, relative to the fubjeéts of
France alone ; the fentences have been fignified and put in exe-
cution againft mefiieurs Cadis and Leblanc ; Mr. Ulloa has fup-
ported the negroes, diffatisfied with their mafters; the commiflary
of his catholic majefty has prefented to the fuperior council
none of his titles, powers, and provifiunss has not exhibited a

copy of the act of ceffion, in order to have it regiftered ; has,
without the faid indifpenfable formalities, fet up the Spanifh
ftandard at Balife, at the Illinois, and other places; has, with-
out legal authority, punifhed and oppreffed fubjeéts of L’rance ;

. has

Bae is
citoyens Francois ; en a méme. snvoyé aux arréts dans Ia fre-
gate de S. M. C. a ufurpé, deta feute autorité, le quart des
oommunes des habitans deta ville, fe l’eft approprié & Va fait
entourer pour y faire paroitre fes chevaux.

« Le tout murement examinc¢, je requiers pour Je roi, que les
fentences rendues par les confeillers nommés d’office & mifes 4
exccution contre les fieurs Cadis & Leblanc, citoyens Francois,
foient declares attentatoires 4 l’autorité de notre feigneur roi, &
deftructives du refpeét di a fa juftice fouveraine féantes en fon
confeil fupérieur, en ce qu’elles violent les loix, formes, & ufages
de la colonie, confirmés & guarantis par l’aéte folemnel de cef-
fion ; que M. Ulloa foit declaré infra@aire 4 nos loix, formes,
ufages, & aux ordres de S. M. C., par Padte de ceffion & certifié
par fa lettre dattée de la Havanne du dix fuillet 1765 ; qu'il foit
déclaré ufurpateur d’une autorité illegale en faifant chatier &
vexer des citoyens Francois fans avoir au préalable fatisfait aux
loix, formes, & ufages de faire enrégiftrer au confeil fupérieur
fes pouvoirs titres & provifions & la copie de I’acte de ceflion
pour en demander aéte; qu'il foit enjoint 4 M. Ulloa commif-
faire de S. M. C, de fortir de la colonie dans la fregate fur la-
quelle il eft venu fous le plus court délai pour éviter des accidens
ou de nouvelles rumeurs ; & d’aller rendre compte de fa conduite
a S. M. C. & quant aux differens poftes établis par mon dit fieur
Ulloa qu'il foit dit qu'il laiffera les ordres par écrit qu'il jugera
convenable; qu’il foit declaré refponfable de tous les evénemens
qu'il auroit pa prevoir ; que meffieurs Aubry & Foucault foient
priés & méme fommeés, au nom de notre feigneur roi, de conti-
nuer 4 commander & regir la colonie comme ils faifoient ci-
devant, que tous batimens fortant de cette colonie:ne puiflent
étre

[ 89 ]
«* has even confined fome in the frigate of his catholic majefty ;
“ has by his authority alone ufurped the fourth part of the com-
mon of the inhabitants of the city ; has appropriated it to him-
felf, and has caufed it to be furrounded, that his horfes might
graze there,

“ Having maturely weighed all this, I require, in behalf of the
king, that the fentences. pronounced by the counfellors nomi-
nated for the purpofe, and put in execution againft meffieurs Cadi
and Le Blanc, fubjeéts of France, be declared encroachments
upon the authority of our fovereign lord the king, and deftruc-
tive of the refpect due to his fupreme juftice, feated in his fu-
perior council, inafmuch as they violate the laws, forms, and
cuftoms of the colony, confirmed and guaranteed by the folemn
act of ceffion; that Mr. Ulloa be declared to have violated our
laws, forms, cuftoms, and the orders of his catholic majefty in
the act of ceffion, which is confirmed by his letter from the
Havannah, dated the 2oth of July 1765; that he be declared
ufurper of illegal authority, by caufing fubje&s of France
to be punithed and oppreffed, without having previoufly com-
plicd with the laws, forms, and cuftoms, in caufing his powers,
titles, and provifions to be regiftered in the fuperior council,
with the copy of the act of ceflion; that it be enjoined Mr.
Ulloa, commiffioner of his catholic majefty, to leave the
colony in the frigate in which he came, without delay, to
avoid accidents and new clamours, and to go and give an ac-
count of his conduct to his catholic majefty : and with regard to
the different pofts eftablifhed by the faid Mr. Ulloa, he is defired
to leave in writing fuch orders, as he fhall think neceflary ; that
he be declared refponfible for all the events which he might
have forefeen; that Meffrs. Aubry and Foucault be requefted,
and even fummoned, in the name of our fovereign lord the
king, to continue to command and govern the colony as they
did heretofore ; that fuch fhips as fail from this colony fhall nor
N: be

ae

[ 90 ]
‘© étre expediés que fous des pafleports fignés de M, Foucault fai-
‘* fant fonétions d’ordonnateur; que la prife de poffeffion ne
** pourra étre propofée ni tentée par aucuns moyens fans de nou-
** veaux ordres de S, M. T. C. que meffieurs Loyola, Gayarro, &
** Navarro feront declares étre garants de leur fignature dans les
«* bons qu'il font mis fur la place s’ils ne font apparoir des ordres
«« de S, M. C. qui les ait autorifés 4 mettre les dits Bons & papiers
*« fur la place ; qu'il leur foit accordé les delais néceflaires pour
«« donner l’ordre qu’ils jugeront convenable 4 leur comptabilitd.
“© Que les habitans & negocians foient autorifés 4 choifir des dé«
© putés pour aller porter leurs fuppliques au feigneur roi; qu'il foit
« fixd & arrété, que le confeil fupérieur addreflera des repréfenta-
“ tions a notre feigneur roi, que l’arrét a intervenir foit 14, publié,.
“« affichd, & enrégiftré ; que copies collationnées en foient envoyées
*¢ 4 monfeigneur le duc de Praflin avec une lettre du confeil fupé-
\ «* rieur & auffi dans les poftes de la colonie pour y étre lues, pub-
* liées, affichées, & enrégiftrées.”

! Oui le rapport de meffieurs, M"* Uchet écuyer, fieur de-
| Knion, & Piot Delaunay, confeillers commiffaires en cette partie,
le tout murement examiné & Ja matiere mife en délibération, le
procureur-général oui & retire :

Le confeil compofé de treize membres dont fix nommés d'oftice,
ayant chacun donné fon avis par écrit, difant droit fur les dites.
repréfentations, a declaré & déclare les fentences rendues par des
confeillers nommés d’office par M. Ulloa, & mifes 4 execution
contre les fieurs Cadis & Leblanc citoyens Francois, attentatoires
4 l’autorité de notre feigneur roi & deftructives du refpect du a fa
juftice fouveraine féante en fon confeil fupérieur ; l’a declaré ufur-
pateur

( 91 ]

be difpatched without paffports figned by Mr, Foucault, in-
vefted with the office of regulator, and difcharging the duties
enjoined by it; that the taking poffeflion can neither be pro-
pofed nor attempted by any means, without new orders being
iffued by his moft chriftian majefty; that Meflirs. Loyala, Gayarro,
and Navarro, fhall be declared guarantees of their fignature for
the goods and paper-circulation which they have caufed to be exs
pofed in he market-place, if they do not produce the orders of
his catholic majefty, empowering then to expofe the faid goods
and paper-circulation in the public market-place; that a fufhicient
time be granted them to take the proper meafures to be ready to
give an account cf their proceedings. That the inhabitants and
merchants be empowered to elect deputies to carry their petitions
and fupplications to our overeign lord the king; that it be fixed
and determined, that the fuperior council fhall make reprefenta-
tions to our fovereign lord the king; that the decree which
is iffued fhall be read, fet up, publithed, and regiftered ; that
confronted copies be fent to his grace the duke of Praflin, with
a letter of the fuperior council, and likewife to the pofts of the
colony, to be there read, fet up, publifhed, and regiftered.”

The report being heard« f Mefirs. Attre Uchet, efq. le fieurde Knion,
ind Piot Delaunay. counfellors and commiflioners appointed for this
perpofe, the whole »eing duly weighed and the fubject deliberated
upon, the attorney-general having been heard and having retired :

The council compofed of thirteen members, of which fix are
nominated to officiate, having each of them given their opinion in
writing, pronouncing upon the faid reprefentations, has declared
and declares the fentences pronownced by the counfeliors nomi-
nated by Mr. Ulloa, and carried into execution againft Mefirs.
Cadis aid Le Blanc, fubjects of France, to be eicroachments upon
the authoiity of our fovereign lord the king, and deftructive of the
refped duc to his fupreme juftice, vefted in his fuperior cour “il

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[ 92 ]

pateur d’une autorité illegale en faifant chatier & vexer des ci-
toyens Francois, fans avoir au préalable fatisfait aux loix & formes,
n’ayant fait apparoir ni enrégiftrer {es pouvoirs, titres & provifions ;
& au préjudice des priviléges 4 eux confervés par le dit aéte de
ceffion: & pour prévenir quelque violence du peuple, & ¢viter
quelque tumulte dangereux, le confeil par fa prudence crdinaire, fe
trouve obligé d’enjoindre, comme de fait il enjoint 4 M. Ulloa de
fortir de la colonie fous trois jours pour tout delai, foit dans la
fregate de S. M. C. fur laquelle il eft venu, ou dans tel autre ba-
timent qui lui paroftra convenable, & d’aller rendre compte de fa
conduite aS. M. C. a ordonné & ordonne que concernant les poftes
par lui établis dans le haut du fleuve, il laiffera tels ordres qu'il ju-
gera convenables, le rendant refponfable de tous les evénemens qu’it
auroit pa prévoir. A prié & prie meffieurs Aubry & Foucault &
les fomme méme ay noin de notre feigneur roi, de continuer &
commander & regir, comme ils faifoient ci-devant la colonie: de-
fend expreflement a tous armateurs & capitaines d’expedier aucun
batiment fous autre paffeport que celui de M. Foucault, faifant
fon&tion de l’ordonnateur: a ordonne & ordonne que la prife de
poffeffion pour S$. M. C. ne pourra étre propofée & tentée, par au-
cun moyens, fans des nouveaux ordres de S. M. T. C. qu’en con-
fequence M. Ulloa s’embarquera fous le dit délai de trois jours
dans tel batiment qu’il jugera a propos avec tous les matelots qui
font Ala Balife. Pour ce qui concerne meilieurs Loyola, Gayarro,
& Navarro, le confeil a ordonné qu’ils pcurront refter pour fuivre
leur comptabilité jufques 4 de nouveaux ordres de S. M. T. C. en
par eux demeurer garans deleurs fignatures dans les bons qu’ils ont
mis fur la place, 4 moins qu’ils ne faffent apparoir des ordres de
S.M.C. Aautorifé & autorife les habitans & négocians, a choifir

telles

{ 93 ]

has declared and declares him an ufurper of illegal authority, in
caufing fubjeéts of France to be punifhed and oppreffed without
having previoufly complied with the laws and forms, having nei-
ther produced his powers, titles, and provifions, nor caufed them
to be regiftered, and that in prejudice of the privileges infured to
them by the faid a& of ceflion : and to prevent any violence of the
populace, and avoid any dangerous tumult, the council, in its
ufual prudence, finds itfelf obliged to enjoin, as in fact it enjoins,
Mr. Ulloa to quit the colony, allowing him only the {pace of three
days, either in the frigate of his catholic majefty, in which he
came, or in whatever veffel he fhall think proper, and go and give
an account of his condué to his catholic majefty: it has likewife
ordained and ordains, that with regard to the pofts eftablithed by
him at the upper part of the river, he fhall leave fuch orders as he
judges expedient, making him at the fame time refponfible for all
the events which he might have forefeen. It has likewife re-
quefted and requefts Mefirs. Aubry and Foucault, and even cites
them in the name of our fovereign lord the king, to continue to
command and govern the colony as they did heretofore: at the
fame time exprefsly forbids all thofe who fit out vefiels, and all
captains of fhips, to difpatch any veffel with any other paffport but
that of Mr. Foucault, who is to do the office of regulator: has
likewife ordered and orders, that the taking poffeffion for his ca-
tholic majefty can neither be propofed nor attempted by any means
without new orders from his moft chriftian majefty : that in coafe-
quence Mr. Ulloa fhall embark in the fpace of three days in what-
ever fhip he fhall think proper. With regard to what relates to Mefirs.
Loyola, Gayarro, and Navarro, the counfel has decreed that they may
ftay and follow their refpective bufinefs, till they have received new
orders from the moft chriftian king, and remain fureties of their fig-
natures for the goods and paper-circulation which they expofed to
public view ‘n the market-place, except they produce the orders
of his catholic majefty. Has likewife authorifed and authorifes the

I inhabitants.

2
Te a Cee en ee a ee

[ 94 ]
telles perfonnes qu’ils croiront convenable pour aller porter leur
fupplique au {eigneur roi, & a arrété que pareillement le confeil
fupérieur addreflera des repréfentations 4 notre dit feigneur roi ;
ordonne que le préfent arrét fera imprimé, 14, publié & affiché &
enregiftré en tous les lieux & poftes de cette colonie, & que copie
en fera envoyée a Mgr. le duc de Praflin, miniftre de la marine.

Mandons, 4 tous nos huifliers ou fergents fur ce requis, faire
pour l’exécution du préfent tous aétes & exploits neceffaires, de ce
f ire donnons pouvoir. Et enjoignons au fubftitut du procureur
géneral du roi, tenir le main a l’exécution, & d’en avertir la cour
en fon tems.

Donné, en la chambre de confeil, le vingt neuf O@obre 1768,

Par le confeil,

GARIC, greffier en chef.

Je prote“e contre l’arrét du confeil, qui renvoye monfieur Don
Antonio de Ulloa de cette colonie ; leurs majeftés trés chrétienne
& catholique feront offenfés du traitement que l’on fait éprouver a
une perfonne de fon caractere, & malgré le peu de forces qui j'ai
fous mes ordres, je m’oppoferois de tout mon pouvoir a fon départ,
fi je ne craignois que fa vie ne fut expofce, aufli bien que celle de
tous les Efpagnols qui fe trouvent ici.

Délibéré 4 la chambre de confeil, ce 29 Octobre 1768.
Signéd
AUBRY.

Colla-

[ 95 ]

inhabitants and merchants to chufe whatever perfons they think
proper to go with their petition to our fovereign lord the king, and
has decreed that the fuperior council fhall in like manner make
reprefentations to our faid fovereign lord the king: orders that the
prefent decree fhall be printed, read, fet up, publithed, and re-
giftered in all places and pofts of this colony, and that a copy
of it fhall be fent to his grace the duke of Praflin, minifter of the
marine.

We order all our bailiffs and ferjeants to perform all the ads
and ceremonies requifite for carrying the prefent decree into exe-
cution; we at the fame time empower them to do fo. We alfo
enjoin the fubftitute of the king’s. attorney-general to fuperin-
tend the execution, and to apprize the court at a proper time.

Given at the council-chamber on the 29th of October, 1768.

By the council,

G.ARIC, principal fecretary.

I proteft againit the decree of the: council, which difmiffes don
Antonio de Ulloa from this colony ; their moft chriftian and ca-
tholic majefties will be offended at this ufage of a perfon of his cha-
racter; and tho’ I have fo fimall a force fubject to my orders, I
fhould with all my might oppofe his departure, were I not appre-

henfive of endangering his life,.as well as the lives of all the
Spaniards in this country.

Deliberated at the council-chamber this 29th of October 1768.

Signed
AUBRYY.

Con-

[ 96 ]

Collatione fur Voriginal demeuré és minutes de greffe, par
nous gteftier en chef fouffigné, 4 la Nouvelle Orléans le deux
Novembre 1768,

GARIC, greffier en chef,

EXTRAIT

[ 97 ]

Compared with the original, left amongft the minutes of the
fecretary’s office, by me, the firft fecretary, whofe name is hereto
figned, at New Orleans, 2d of November 1768,

GARIC, principal fecretary.

EXTRACT

(095 J

Extratt desRrorstTRes di Conseiy SupERI£uR de laPROvVINCE
de la Lovistane, du 31 Octobre 1768.

Vu par le confeil fupérieur, la proteftation faite par M, Aubry,
chevalier de l’ordre royal & militaire de St. Louis, commandant
pour fa majefté trés-chretienne de la ditte province, 4 l’arrét de la
cour rendu le 29 du prefent mois, contre M. Ulloa commilffaire de
S. M. C. icelle lue l’audience tenante ; oui fur ce, le procureur-
général du roi en fes conclufions ; la matiere mife en deliberations:
le confeil, fans condamner les motifs qui ont donné lieu 4 M. Au-
bry, de protefter contre l’arrét de la cour du 29 du préfent, a de-
claré & declare la ditte proteftation nulle, & comme non avenue ;
ordonne que le dit arrét fortira fon plein & entier effet, ce qui
fera exécuté en toute fa forme & teneur.

Donné & delibéré en la chambre de confeil, le 31 Octobre 1768.

Par le confeil,

GARIC, grefher en chef.

[ 99 }

Extract of the Recistrers of the Surerror Councit of the
Province of Louisiana, 31ft October 1768.

The fuperior council having taken into confideration the proteft
made by Mr, Aubry, knight of the royal and military order of St.
Louis, governor of faid province for his moft chriftian majefty,
againft the decree of court delivered on the 2gth of the prefent
snctith againftt Mr. Ulloa, commiffioner of his catholic majefty ;
and this proteft being read whilft the audience was holding, and
the king’s attorney-general being heard thereupon, and the matter
thoroughly debated ; the council, without condemning the mo-~
tives which have caufed Mr. Aubry to proteft againft the decree of
court of the 29th of the prefent month, has declared and declares
the faid proteft null and void, and orders that the faid decree fhall
have its entire effect, which fhall be executed in its full force and
tenor.

Given and <efolved at the council-chamber, October 31, 1768.

By the council,

GARIC, principal fecretary.